‘It’s Political Manipulation’, Atiku Blasts Tinubu For Declaring State Of Emergency In Rivers

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has strongly criticized President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a State of Emergency in Rivers State, which led to the suspension of the state’s executive and legislative arms for six months. Atiku labeled the action as “political manipulation” and accused Tinubu of acting in “bad faith” regarding the ongoing political and security crises in the state.

In a statement posted on his verified social media handles on Tuesday night, Atiku claimed that Tinubu’s inaction contributed to the escalation of the crisis in Rivers. He argued that the President’s failure to intervene sooner had worsened the situation.

“Anyone paying attention to the unfolding crisis knows that Bola Tinubu has been a vested partisan actor in the political turmoil engulfing Rivers,” Atiku wrote. “His blatant refusal — or calculated negligence — in preventing this escalation is nothing short of disgraceful.”

Atiku further stated that the security breaches in Rivers, including the destruction of national infrastructure, directly fell under the President’s responsibility. He contended that Tinubu’s failure to act was unforgivable and that the recent violence had set the region back to an era of instability.

“Beyond the political scheming in Rivers, the brazen security breaches that led to the condemnable destruction of national infrastructure in the state land squarely on the President’s desk,” Atiku said. “Tinubu cannot evade responsibility for the chaos his administration has either enabled or failed to prevent.”

He went on to accuse the President of undermining the progress made in the Niger Delta under the administration of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua, stating that years of peace had been undone for political gain.

Atiku also condemned Tinubu’s actions as a direct assault on the democratic process in Nigeria, stating, “Punishing the people of Rivers State just to serve the political gamesmanship between the governor and Tinubu’s enablers in the federal government is nothing less than an assault on democracy.”

President Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State on Tuesday included the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Professor Ngozi Odu, and the State House of Assembly for an initial period of six months. The President cited ongoing political and security crises in the state as factors impeding governance and undermining democratic institutions.

Atiku’s criticism is part of the ongoing debate over the legality and legitimacy of the President’s actions, with many opposition figures questioning the motivations behind the declaration and its potential impact on democratic governance in Nigeria.