Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has sharply criticized President Bola Tinubu for his silence on the ongoing turmoil in the Lagos State House of Assembly, calling it a tacit approval of undemocratic tactics. In a statement issued by his media aide, Paul Ibe, Atiku condemned what he described as “backdoor tactics” and the use of security forces to reinstate Mudashiru Obasa as Speaker despite his removal by a majority of lawmakers.
Obasa reportedly returned to the Assembly complex on Thursday, declaring himself Speaker and holding a plenary session with only a handful of legislators, defying strong opposition from most members. Atiku argued that Tinubu’s refusal to intervene raises concerns about his commitment to democracy, echoing recent claims by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, regarding selective political control.
Accusing Tinubu of reducing Lagos politics to a battle of power rather than principles, Atiku called for urgent action to defend democratic values. He urged the President to publicly denounce any attempt to manipulate the Assembly leadership and ensure due process is followed, warning that Nigeria’s hard-fought democracy must not be undermined by coercion and political strong-arming.