Abuja — Former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has strongly criticised President Bola Tinubu over the suspension and subsequent reinstatement of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and members of the State House of Assembly, describing the move as illegal and unconstitutional.
Atiku, in a statement posted on his official X account on Thursday, maintained that there was nothing to celebrate in Tinubu’s decision to lift the six-month suspension.
“Lifting the suspension of Governor Simi Fubara is nothing to cheer about. The suspension of the Rivers State Governor and the State House of Assembly was unconstitutional when it was done six months ago and is still illegal today,” Atiku wrote.
🚨 Atiku Warns of “Creeping Dictatorship”
The former Vice President stressed that the Nigerian Constitution does not grant the president the authority to suspend a democratically elected governor or state legislators, warning that the development signals a dangerous drift toward authoritarianism.
“President Tinubu had no power to suspend a democratically elected governor and state lawmakers. The Rivers shenanigans only signpost the dictatorship of the Tinubu administration,” Atiku added.
⚖️ Background to the Rivers Crisis
Atiku’s remarks came less than 24 hours after President Tinubu lifted the state of emergency in Rivers State and directed Governor Fubara, his deputy Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu, and members of the House of Assembly to resume office on Thursday, September 18.
The Rivers political crisis has been one of the most contentious issues of Tinubu’s presidency, raising debates over federal overreach and constitutional violations.
