Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has strongly criticized President Bola Tinubu over his recent declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, labeling it a politically driven move rather than a sincere attempt to restore stability and security in the region.
In an official statement released on Tuesday, Atiku accused Tinubu of deliberately allowing the crisis in Rivers State to escalate, arguing that the federal government’s imposition of emergency rule was a premeditated action aimed at gaining more control over the state’s political landscape.
According to Atiku, Tinubu’s actions suggest either a deliberate political maneuver or a complete lack of commitment to addressing the root causes of the crisis. He further alleged that the federal government is using the declaration as an excuse to undermine democracy and extend authoritarian control over the state.
Rivers State has been experiencing heightened political instability in recent months, with intense clashes among rival factions contributing to increased insecurity and concerns over governance.
Atiku expressed his belief that the crisis was intentionally allowed to spiral out of control to create a justification for federal intervention. He asserted that the Tinubu administration could have prevented the deterioration of the situation but instead chose to exploit it for political advantage.
He further condemned the government’s handling of the security situation in the state, arguing that the destruction of federal infrastructure was either facilitated by government-backed violence or resulted from a complete failure to enforce security measures.
Atiku’s statement read: “The declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State reeks of political manipulation, dishonesty, and outright bad faith.
“Anyone following the unfolding crisis can clearly see that Bola Tinubu has been actively involved in the political conflict engulfing Rivers. His refusal—or strategic negligence—to prevent this escalation is nothing short of disgraceful.
“Beyond the political scheming in Rivers, the severe security lapses that led to the unfortunate destruction of national infrastructure in the state fall directly under the responsibility of the President. His failure to act decisively before the crisis reached this level is unacceptable.”
Atiku did not hold back in his criticism, stating: “Tinubu cannot escape accountability for the chaos his administration has either facilitated or failed to prevent.
“It is an unpardonable failure that under Tinubu’s leadership, the Niger Delta has been thrown back into an era of instability and violent political unrest—reversing the progress achieved under the late President Umaru Yar’Adua. Years of peace and development have been carelessly undone in favor of selfish political calculations.”
He further emphasized: “If federal infrastructure in Rivers has been compromised, the ultimate responsibility falls on the President. It is unacceptable to punish the people of Rivers State simply to serve the political gamesmanship between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Tinubu’s allies in the federal government. Such actions are a direct attack on democracy and must be condemned by all well-meaning Nigerians.”
The former Vice President concluded his statement by calling on Nigerians and the international community to reject any attempts to use the crisis as a means of political suppression, stressing the need to uphold democracy, justice, and fairness in governance.