Atiku Reacts To Tinubu Declaring State Of Emergency In Rivers State

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has reportedly strongly criticized President Bola Tinubu for declaring a state of emergency in Rivers State.

The decision follows an ongoing political crisis in the state, which recently led to the bombing of pipeline infrastructure.

Atiku accused the president of political bias and bad faith, blaming him for the crisis.

He argued that Tinubu had played an active role in escalating the situation rather than resolving it.

The declaration of a state of emergency was announced by Tinubu in a nationwide broadcast on March 18, 2025.

As part of this move, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and members of the state House of Assembly were suspended.

Tinubu stated that Rivers had been in a political deadlock for months, depriving residents of good governance.

He specifically mentioned that the state’s House of Assembly building, which was demolished 14 months ago, had not been rebuilt despite several interventions.

In response, Atiku took to social media, condemning Tinubu’s actions as a failure of leadership.

He accused the president of neglecting his duty to prevent the crisis and allowing the security situation to deteriorate.

“Anyone following this crisis knows that Bola Tinubu has been a partisan actor in Rivers’ political turmoil,” Atiku wrote. “His refusal or failure to stop this escalation is disgraceful.”

He further blamed Tinubu’s administration for the return of violent unrest in the Niger Delta, stating that years of peace, secured under late President Umaru Yar’Adua, had been undone by the president’s political interests.

Atiku also held Tinubu responsible for the recent attacks on national infrastructure in Rivers, arguing that the declaration of a state of emergency was a political move rather than a genuine effort to restore order.

“Punishing the people of Rivers State to serve political interests is an attack on democracy and must be condemned,” he said.