Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has strongly condemned the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, describing it as a product of political manipulation and bad faith.
In a press statement released on Tuesday, Atiku accused President Bola Tinubu of being a “vested partisan actor” in the ongoing political crisis in Rivers.
He alleged that Tinubu’s refusal or failure to prevent the escalation of tensions in the state was a deliberate act.
“Tinubu cannot evade responsibility for the chaos his administration has either enabled or failed to prevent,” Atiku stated.
The former vice president also blamed the federal government for the security breaches that led to the destruction of national infrastructure in the state, insisting that the President bears full responsibility.
“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—undoing the hard-won peace secured by the late President Umaru Yar’Adua,” he said.
Atiku further described the move to declare a state of emergency as an attack on democracy, accusing Tinubu’s administration of punishing the people of Rivers State to advance political interests.
“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,” he added.
The political crisis in Rivers State has escalated in recent weeks, with tensions rising between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and factions loyal to the federal government. The declaration of a state of emergency has sparked widespread debate, with critics arguing that it is an attempt to stifle opposition in the oil-rich state.
