Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticized President Bola Tinubu for his silence amid the ongoing crisis in the Lagos State House of Assembly, calling it a tacit endorsement of anti-democratic tactics.
In a statement on Thursday, signed by his media aide Paul Ibe, Atiku condemned what he described as “backdoor tactics” and the use of security forces to overturn the removal of former Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, despite being ousted by a majority of lawmakers.
Obasa had forcefully returned to the Assembly complex on Thursday, insisting he remained Speaker, despite opposition from most legislators.
Atiku expressed concerns over Tinubu’s refusal to intervene, particularly in light of recent allegations by ex-Kaduna 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. 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 said.
He accused Tinubu of reducing Lagos politics to a struggle between “the noble values of Omoluabi—rooted in integrity, fairness, and public service—and the strong-arm tactics of Area Boy politics, where power is retained through coercion rather than consensus.”
Atiku urged Tinubu to publicly denounce any attempts to undermine democracy and called on Nigerians to remain vigilant in defending democratic institutions.
