Atiku Abubakar has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, describing it as a clear act of political manipulation and bad faith.
The New Daily Prime reported that Tinubu, in a nationwide address, announced the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and state lawmakers for six months.
Atiku Blames Tinubu for Escalating Crisis in Rivers State
President Tinubu recently appointed former Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Ibokette Ibas, as the administrator of Rivers State amid ongoing political tensions.
Reacting on his X (formerly Twitter) page, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar accused Tinubu of playing a deeply partisan role in the crisis. He said anyone following the situation closely would see the president’s direct involvement in the unrest.
Atiku argued that the president either allowed the situation to worsen deliberately or failed entirely in his responsibility to maintain peace, calling the negligence “disgraceful.”
“Beyond the political scheming in Rivers, the brazen security breaches that led to the destruction of national infrastructure rest squarely on the President’s desk,” Atiku said.
“Tinubu cannot escape responsibility for the chaos his administration has either enabled or failed to stop.”
He further condemned the return of violent unrest in the Niger Delta, blaming the Tinubu administration for reversing the peace achieved under the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.
“It is an unforgivable failure that under Tinubu’s watch, the Niger Delta is sliding back into instability,” he added.
“Years of progress have been carelessly undone in pursuit of selfish political interests.”
Atiku also accused Tinubu of allowing federal infrastructure in Rivers State to deteriorate and held him fully accountable.
He concluded by denouncing the use of the people of Rivers State as “collateral damage” in a power struggle between the state governor and Tinubu’s allies, calling it a dangerous attack on democracy that must be firmly opposed.
