Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticized President Bola Tinubu for his silence on the ongoing turmoil within the Lagos State House of Assembly, describing it as a tacit endorsement of anti-democratic practices.
In a statement released on Thursday by his media aide, Paul Ibe, Atiku condemned what he termed “backdoor tactics” and the alleged use of state-backed security forces to reverse the removal of former Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, despite his ousting by a majority of lawmakers.
Obasa, who had been voted out by members of the Assembly, later forcefully returned to the legislative complex, insisting that he remained the Speaker—a move that sparked political tensions.
Atiku argued that Tinubu’s reluctance to intervene raises concerns about his commitment to democratic principles, particularly in light of recent accusations by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, who alleged that Tinubu 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,” Atiku stated.
The former Vice President further accused Tinubu of turning Lagos politics into a contest between the traditional Yoruba values of Omoluabi—which emphasize integrity, fairness, and public service—and what he described as “Area Boy politics,” where power is maintained through coercion rather than consensus.
Atiku called on the president to take a firm stance against any attempts to subvert democracy in Lagos and ensure that due process prevails.
“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 added.
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