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Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticsed President Bola Tinubu for his silence over the crisis rocking the Lagos State House of Assembly.
He described it as a tacit endorsement of anti-democratic tactics aimed at subverting the will of lawmakers.
Atiku, in a statement signed by his media aide, Paul Ibe, on Thursday, condemned what he called “backdoor tactics” and the use of state-backed security forces to reverse the removal of former Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, despite his ousting by an overwhelming majority of Assembly members.
Obasa had stormed the Lagos assembly complex earlier Thursday insisting he remains the head of the hallowed chamber despite majority of the lawmakers kicking against his return.
Atiku noted that Tinubu’s refusal to address the crisis raises concerns about his commitment to democratic principles, particularly in light of recent allegations by former Kaduna State governor, Nasir el-Rufai, that the president engages in selective political control.
“Despite his undisputed influence over Lagos politics, President Bola Tinubu has remained conspicuously silent on the matter. His refusal to address the crisis suggests a tacit endorsement of the anti-democratic maneuvers aimed at imposing his preferred candidate against the overwhelming will of Assembly members.
“This silence is deafening and deeply concerning,” Atiku said.
He accused Tinubu of turning Lagos politics into a battleground between “the noble values of Omoluabi—rooted in integrity, fairness, and public service—and the crass, strong-arm tactics of Area Boy politics, where power is retained through coercion rather than consensus.”
He called on the president to publicly denounce any attempt to undermine democracy in Lagos and ensure that due process is upheld.
“Nigeria’s democracy was hard-fought and must not be undermined by those who should be its foremost guardians. We urge all well-meaning Nigerians to remain vigilant and resolute in defending the sanctity of our democratic institutions,” he stated.
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