Rivers in Crisis: Atiku Accuses Tinubu of Political Manipulation Over State of Emergency

In a fiery statement on Tuesday, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar slammed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for declaring a state of emergency in Rivers State, calling it a manipulative and politically motivated decision aimed at silencing opposition forces.

The President had earlier in the day announced the emergency declaration, citing persistent political instability and security threats in the oil-rich state. As part of the drastic measures, Tinubu suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly. Additionally, he appointed Ibok-Ete Ibas, a retired vice-admiral, as the state's administrator.

Reacting to the development, Atiku accused Tinubu of deliberately stoking the flames of crisis in Rivers, claiming that the President has been an active participant in the state's political turmoil rather than a neutral arbitrator.

"Anyone paying attention to the unfolding crisis knows that Bola Tinubu has been a vested partisan actor in the political turmoil engulfing Rivers,ÔÇØ Atiku stated.

His statement continued: "His blatant refusal-or calculated negligence-in preventing this escalation is nothing short of disgraceful.ÔÇØ

Atiku did not hold back in blaming Tinubu's administration for the recent pipeline explosions in Rivers State, arguing that the President should take responsibility for the renewed instability in the Niger Delta.

"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,ÔÇØ Atiku said.

Describing the suspension of Rivers' elected officials as a reckless abuse of power, Atiku warned that the move threatens Nigeria's democratic fabric and called on Nigerians to resist what he termed "bad faith tactics.ÔÇØ

"If federal infrastructure in Rivers has been compromised, the President bears full responsibility. 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.ÔÇØ

Atiku urged democratic institutions, civil society organizations, and Nigerians to stand against any attempt to use federal might to settle political scores.

Tinubu's emergency declaration in Rivers has already sparked widespread controversy, with critics accusing the Federal Government of meddling in state affairs to strengthen the grip of the President's political allies. While the Presidency maintains that the action was necessary to restore peace, opposition figures argue that the move is nothing but an unconstitutional power grab.

With tensions soaring, all eyes are now on the Federal Government to clarify the next steps regarding Rivers State's governance and security.

Stay with All Facts Newspaper for further updates.

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