Atiku Calls For Rejection Of Rivers State Emergency Declaration: A Heated Presidential Response

Presidency Rebukes Atiku Over Rivers State Emergency Declaration

Here's the situation: The presidency has fired back at Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) 2023 presidential candidate, over his strong critique of the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State. The tension is palpable, and the political stakes are high. Let’s dive into the details.

Naija News reported that President Bola Tinubu, in a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday, decided to suspend Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu for six months, simultaneously declaring a state of emergency in the region. This move has sparked significant debate and criticism from various quarters.

Atiku's Take: A State of Disgrace

Later that evening, Atiku released a statement where he minced no words about President Tinubu's actions. According to Atiku, Tinubu's declaration is nothing short of disgraceful. He argued that the President cannot evade responsibility for the chaos that his administration has either enabled or failed to stop in Rivers State.

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Atiku went on to say, "The declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State is a textbook example of political manipulation and bad faith. If you’ve been paying attention to the unfolding crisis, you’d realize that Bola Tinubu has been a key player in the political turmoil that’s engulfed the region. His refusal—or perhaps calculated negligence—to prevent this escalation is nothing short of disgraceful."

The Presidency's Counterattack: Acting Within Powers

In response, the Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, Olusegun Dada, took Atiku to task for his comments. Dada pointed out that President Tinubu acted well within his constitutional rights, as outlined in Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution. He wasn’t shy about reminding Atiku of his own past actions.

Dada highlighted that Atiku, along with his former boss, Olusegun Obasanjo, had exercised similar powers to declare states of emergency in Ekiti and Plateau states. He emphasized that as an elder statesman, Atiku should know better than to let emotions cloud his judgment.

Dada wrote, "Alhaji, you need to calm down. Mr. President acted within his powers, as enshrined in Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution—the same way you and your boss exercised your powers to declare states of emergency in Ekiti and Plateau. As an elder statesman, you should know when to separate emotions from logic."

What's Next?

This political tug-of-war between Atiku and the presidency highlights the ongoing tensions in Nigerian politics. As the nation grapples with the implications of the Rivers State emergency declaration, one thing is clear: this is just the beginning of a long and complex dialogue about governance, power, and accountability. Keep your eyes peeled for further developments in this unfolding drama.

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