Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has strongly criticized President Bola Tinubu for his silence on the crisis rocking the Lagos State House of Assembly.
Atiku described Tinubu’s silence as a tacit endorsement of anti-democratic tactics aimed at subverting the will of lawmakers.
The crisis began when former Speaker Mudashiru Obasa was removed by an overwhelming majority of Assembly members, but he refused to step down. Obasa even stormed the Lagos assembly complex, insisting he remains the head of the chamber, despite the majority of lawmakers kicking against his return.
Atiku condemned the use of state-backed security forces to reverse Obasa’s removal, calling it “backdoor tactics” that undermine democracy. He 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.
Atiku 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. Atiku emphasized that Nigeria’s democracy was hard-fought and must not be undermined by those who should be its foremost guardians.
This development comes amidst concerns about the growing influence of the presidency on state affairs, with some critics arguing that Tinubu’s silence on the matter is a clear indication of his involvement in the crisis.