Former Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson has issued a subtle yet pointed warning to political leaders forming a new opposition coalition against President Bola Tinubu.
The warning comes in response to comments made by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who referred to himself, Rotimi Amaechi, and Nasir El-Rufai as “conspirators” united in their opposition to the current administration.
The trio and several other influential politicians gathered in Abuja on Saturday to celebrate Amaechi’s 60th birthday—an event that also served as a subtle rallying ground for coalition talks.
Reacting during the event, Dickson cautioned the political heavyweights to reflect on the fallout of their past alliances, particularly the 2015 coalition that ousted the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and former President Goodluck Jonathan from power.
“There are a number of you who are expert conspirators, who know how to assemble coalitions and then take out governments, as you did to my party in 2015,” Dickson said.
He reminded them that the promises made during the 2015 political realignment had not materialized and that Nigerians are now facing worsening hardship.
“And when you did so, particularly to a clueless government, so-called, now 11 years down the line, we thought that there would have been no weaponization of poverty and that all the challenges of Nigeria would have been gone.”
Dickson, while refraining from declaring direct opposition to their current moves, offered this final piece of advice:
“I am not a professional coalition builder or conspirator, but this time—shine your eyes.”
His remarks underscore growing skepticism about the motives and potential effectiveness of any new coalition, especially given the unfulfilled promises of past political realignments.
