- His return has sparked confusion among political observers and some players in the State political arena
Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has expressed concerns over the turn of event in the protracted crisis rocking the Lagos State House of Assembly.
Recall that the crisis bedeviling the State legislative body took a new dimension on Friday following the return of the impeached former Speaker Mudashiru Obasa.
Obasa stormed the Lagos Assembly complex, insisting he remains the Speaker, despite vehement opposition from most members of the chamber to his continued stay in office.
His return has sparked confusion among political observers and some players in the State political arena.
In his reaction, Atiku said the development places a question mark on the democratic credentials of President Bola Tinubu.
He opined that Tinubu’s silence on the ongoing crisis is an implicit approval of anti-democratic tactics and gangster politics.
In a statement issued on Thursday by his media aide, Paul Ibe, Atiku condemned what he described as “backdoor tactics” and the use of state-backed security forces to overturn Obasa ousting.
Atiku argued that Tinubu’s refusal to intervene raises concerns about his commitment to democratic ideals, especially in light of recent allegations by former Kaduna State governor, Nasir el-Rufai, 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.
He further accused Tinubu of turning Lagos politics into a battle between the noble values of Omoluabi—rooted in integrity, fairness, and public service—and the crude, strong-arm tactics of Area Boy politics, where power is retained through coercion rather than consensus.
Atiku called on the president to publicly denounce any attempt to undermine democracy in Lagos and to ensure that due process is upheld.
“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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