Atiku, Obi, El-Rufai, key opposition leaders unite against Tinubu over Rivers Emergency Rule

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party Presidential candidate in the last election, Peter Obi, Nasir El-Rufai, former Kaduna governor, have rejected the State of emergency declared by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Rivers State. Atiku, Obi and other opposition leaders, who gathered in Abuja on Thursday also called on the National Assembly to reject it. […]

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party Presidential candidate in the last election, Peter Obi, Nasir El-Rufai, former Kaduna governor, have rejected the State of emergency declared by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Rivers State.

Atiku, Obi and other opposition leaders, who gathered in Abuja on Thursday also called on the National Assembly to reject it.

On Tuesday, President Tinubu declared a State of Emergency in Rivers State, suspending the state Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his Deputy and members of the State House of Assembly.

Addressing a press conference on behalf of the opposition leaders at Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, on Thursday, Atiku, who spoke on behalf of the group. accused Tinubu of favouritism.

The Presidential candidate of the PDP in the last election also called on President Tinubu to revoke “this unconstitutional proclamation and reinstate the elected Governor, Deputy Governor Siminalayi Fubara and others suspended by the emergency rule.

“We are a cross-section of leaders and political stakeholders from across the country. We have come together to address the dangerous and unconstitutional actions taken by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, on March 18, 2025-to wit, the declaration of a State of Emergency in Rivers State and the illegal suspension of the democratically elected Governor, Deputy Governor, and the State House of Assembly.”

“This action is not only unlawful but also a clear subversion of democracy and imposition of autocratic federal control over a duly elected state government. We strongly condemn this development and call on all Nigerians of good conscience to resist this brazen assault on the constitution of our country and the institutions of our democracy.

“Mr President’s illegal and unconstitutional proclamation was presumably driven by the protracted insidious political crisis in Rivers State, which culminated in the recent ruling of the Supreme Court. Naturally, we expected all parties to the dispute to follow laid-down procedures, and in good faith, to promptly implement the judgment of the highest court of the land. We note that despite provocative statements and belligerent attitude of his opponents, Governor Fubara had demonstrated goodwill and appeared disposed to the implementation of the ruling of the Supreme Court.

“However, rather than rise above the fray, the president yielded to petty favouritism and betrayed the oath that he solemnly swore to before God and man, which was to “do right to all manner of people, according to law, without fear or favour, affection or ill-will.” If president Tinubu had conveniently disguised his true intentions in the past, his broadcast to the nation on 18th March 2025 betrayed his bias and fell far below the standard of comportment expected from his exalted office.”