By Ogele John
Former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has strongly criticized President Bola Tinubu for declaring a state of emergency in Rivers State due to an ongoing political crisis, which included the bombing of pipeline infrastructure. Atiku accused Tinubu of political manipulation and bad faith in handling the matter.
The former Vice President pointed fingers at Tinubu for fueling the crisis in the state, calling him a "partisan actor" in the political instability plaguing Rivers. Atiku's remarks came shortly after the president suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and members of the state House of Assembly in a nationwide address on March 18, 2025.
In his broadcast, Tinubu expressed his concerns over the political unrest in Rivers, stating, "The state has been at a standstill, and the people have been deprived of good governance. Fourteen months after Governor Fubara demolished the House of Assembly, it remains unrebuilt. Despite various interventions, including mine, the situation persists. A responsible president cannot stand idle in such a situation, so declaring a state of emergency has become necessary to restore peace and governance."
However, Atiku swiftly condemned the declaration, calling it disgraceful that the president had allowed the situation to deteriorate. "Anyone who follows the events in Rivers knows that Tinubu has been a key political player in the ongoing crisis. His failure, or deliberate neglect, to stop the escalation is inexcusable," Atiku remarked.
The former VP went on to highlight the security breaches that resulted in the destruction of national infrastructure in the state, placing the blame squarely on Tinubu's shoulders. "The president cannot escape responsibility for the chaos his administration has either ignored or failed to prevent," Atiku said.
Atiku further criticized Tinubu for plunging the Niger Delta region back into unrest, undoing the progress made under the late President Umaru Yar'Adua. He pointed out that Tinubu's political maneuvers were undermining years of peace in the region. "The return of violence and instability under Tinubu's leadership is a disastrous failure. It is unforgivable that the Niger Delta has been thrown back into turmoil," he added.
Finally, Atiku accused the president of punishing the people of Rivers to advance political agendas between Governor Fubara and Tinubu's supporters. "This is nothing short of an assault on democracy and must be condemned," Atiuk concluded.
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