Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Mr Peter Obi have condemned President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, describing it as a politically motivated move aimed at consolidating power rather than addressing the root causes of the crisis.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Atiku accused Tinubu of being a direct participant in the state’s political crisis, either through deliberate inaction or calculated negligence.

He argued that the federal government’s decision to impose emergency rule is a tactical ploy to justify authoritarian control rather than a genuine effort to restore order.

Rivers State has witnessed rising political tensions in recent months, with clashes among rival factions fuelling unrest and security concerns.

Atiku alleges that the crisis was intentionally escalated to warrant federal emergency actions.

He criticized Tinubu for failing to prevent the situation from spiralling out of control, calling it a shameful abdication of responsibility.

He also blamed the administration for security lapses that led to the destruction of federal infrastructure in the state, arguing that such breaches reflect either government-enabled violence or an outright failure to prevent it.

Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, has strongly criticized President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, calling it both “unconstitutional and reckless.”

In a statement released on Wednesday via X, Obi accused the president of undermining the rule of law and demonstrating a dangerous willingness to undermine democracy.

He argued that the move was not only rash but also a clear effort to consolidate power, potentially rolling back the democratic gains made over the past 26 years.

Obi described the declaration as an attempt to impose martial law on the state and warned that it could lead to a regression into lawlessness.

“The declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State is a direct assault on the progress we’ve made, undoing the advances of over two decades of democracy,” he said.

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He also rejected the notion that the political situation in Rivers justifies such an extreme measure, especially the suspension of Governor Siminlayi Fubara, his deputy, and the state lawmakers.

Obi argued that the move violated section 305(1) of the 1999 Constitution, misinterpreting it to justify the removal of elected officials.

Obi emphasized that a state of emergency should not be used as a tool to unilaterally remove an elected governor.

He further stated that the action goes against democratic principles and seems driven by personal or partisan interests rather than the well-being of the people of Rivers State or Nigeria as a whole.

He warned that such a precedent could have dangerous implications, threatening the separation of powers, democracy, and the rule of law.

Obi expressed concern that this could lead to a rise in impunity and chaos, especially when coupled with ongoing issues of electoral manipulation and governance failures.

The Labour Party leader called on the National Assembly and other key stakeholders to reject the emergency rule, warning that its approval would further entrench a culture of impunity and jeopardize Nigeria’s democracy.

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