Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has strongly criticized President Bola Tinubu over the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, calling it an assault on democracy and an act of political manipulation.
In a statement shared on his verified Facebook page, Atiku accused Tinubu’s administration of either enabling or failing to prevent the political crisis in Rivers State. He argued that the President cannot evade responsibility for the turmoil, especially if federal infrastructure in the state has been compromised.
Atiku condemned Tinubu’s handling of the crisis, stating that the President’s inaction or deliberate political scheming has worsened the situation.
“The declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State reeks of political manipulation and outright bad faith,” Atiku said.
He accused Tinubu of being a “vested partisan actor” in the political tension in the state, blaming him for either refusing to act or deliberately allowing the crisis to escalate.
“Tinubu cannot evade responsibility for the chaos his administration has either enabled or failed to prevent. His refusal to act earlier is nothing short of disgraceful.”
Atiku also linked the crisis to a broader security failure, arguing that national infrastructure destruction in Rivers State highlights a lack of effective leadership.
The former vice president further accused Tinubu of reversing the hard-earned peace in the Niger Delta, which was secured during the late President Umaru Yar’Adua’s administration.
“It is an unforgivable failure that under Tinubu’s watch, the Niger Delta has been thrown back into an era of violent unrest and instability. Years of progress have been recklessly erased in pursuit of selfish political calculations.”
Atiku argued that punishing the people of Rivers State with a state of emergency is unjustified, particularly when the federal government should bear full responsibility for any breakdown in security.
“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 and must be condemned in the strongest terms.”
The state of emergency in Rivers State, announced by President Bola Tinubu, has led to the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and the State House of Assembly for six months. The President appointed Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (rtd) as the administrator to oversee the state’s affairs.
The decision has sparked a political uproar, with opposition leaders and civil rights groups calling for a reversal of the emergency rule. As tensions rise, the future of governance in Rivers State remains uncertain.
