Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has slammed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the declaration of state of emrergecy in Rivers State, describing same as blatant refusal or calculated negligence in preventing the escalation of the political crisis.

Atiku who described the declaration as political manipulation and outright bad faith, said it is an unforgiveable failure.

Atiku accused Tinubu of being a “vested partisan actor” in the ongoing political turmoil in the state, alleging that his administration either enabled or failed to prevent the crisis.

“His blatant refusal or calculated negligence in preventing this escalation is nothing short of disgraceful,” Atiku said in a statement on Tuesday via X.

He further condemned the security breaches that led to the destruction of national infrastructure in Rivers, insisting that the responsibility lies with the President.

“If federal infrastructure in Rivers has been compromised, the President bears full responsibility,” he said.

“Punishing the people of Rivers State just to serve the political gamesmanship between the governor and Tinubu’s enablers in the Federal Government is nothing less than an assault on democracy and must be condemned in the strongest terms,” he added.

Atiku also accused Tinubu of reversing the peace achieved in the Niger Delta under former President Umaru Yar’Adua, stating that his administration has thrown the region “back into an era of violent unrest and instability.”

The former Vice President called on Nigerians to reject what he termed as a political scheme, insisting that the situation in Rivers should not be used as a tool for partisan interests.