Former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has strongly criticized President Bola Tinubu for declaring a state of emergency in Rivers State amid the ongoing political crisis, which has led to attacks on pipeline infrastructure in the state.
Atiku condemned the move, accusing Tinubu of political manipulation and bad faith in his actions. The former VP held the president accountable for the situation in Rivers, calling him a “partisan actor” in the turmoil affecting the state.
Atiku took to social media platform X shortly after President Tinubu’s nationwide address on March 18, 2025, where he announced the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and members of the state House of Assembly.
In his address, President Tinubu said: “I am deeply disturbed by the political crisis in Rivers. The state has come to a standstill, depriving the people of good governance. Fourteen months after Governor Fubara demolished the state House of Assembly, it remains unrepaired. Despite numerous interventions, including my own, nothing has been achieved. A responsible president cannot stand idly by, and to restore peace and good governance, a state of emergency has become necessary. Consequently, Governor Fubara is hereby suspended.”
However, Atiku responded by expressing outrage that the president failed to prevent the crisis from escalating.
“Anyone paying attention to the unfolding situation knows that Bola Tinubu has been a partisan figure in the political chaos engulfing Rivers. His blatant inaction or intentional negligence in preventing this escalation is disgraceful,” Atiku remarked.
He further criticized the government for the security breaches leading to the destruction of national infrastructure in the region, placing the blame squarely on the president’s shoulders.
“The insecurity and destruction of vital infrastructure in Rivers is a direct consequence of the president’s failure to act. Tinubu cannot escape responsibility for the chaos his administration has either enabled or failed to prevent,” Atiku stated.
Atiku also decried the return of unrest to the Niger Delta under President Tinubu’s leadership, accusing him of undoing the peace efforts made during the administration of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua. He called out Tinubu for sacrificing regional stability in favor of political gain.
“It is an unforgivable failure that under Tinubu’s watch, the Niger Delta has reverted to violence and instability. The hard-won peace achieved by President Yar’Adua has been recklessly undone for selfish political purposes. If federal infrastructure in Rivers has been compromised, the president is fully responsible. Punishing the people of Rivers State for the political infighting between Governor Fubara and the president’s allies in the federal government is an assault on democracy,” Atiku concluded.
