The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called on President Bola Tinubu to stop politicizing the nation’s security challenges and focus urgently on addressing the escalating insecurity in Nigeria.
The party accused President Tinubu of ignoring the worsening crisis and prioritizing political engagements over the safety of Nigerians.
In a statement released on Sunday, ADC spokesman Bolaji Abdullahi condemned the President’s frequent attendance at political and social events while avoiding areas most affected by terrorist and bandit attacks. This reaction followed Tinubu’s recent visit to Jos, Plateau State, where he attended the funeral of the National Chairman of the APC’s mother.
The ADC dismissed the President’s declaration at the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) in Jos that his mission is to unite Nigerians as mere political rhetoric. The party emphasized that the President’s actions have not demonstrated any true understanding or effort to unite the country. Instead, Nigeria continues to suffer from rising violence and instability.
Highlighting recent security failures, the ADC noted bandit raids in nine Local Government Areas in Kwara State, forcing residents to pay ransoms, and violent attacks in Kogi State, where travelers were killed and people abducted. The party also referenced reports of over 180 schools in northern Nigeria closing due to insecurity, pointing to a broader pattern of violence from Plateau to Zamfara and beyond.
The ADC criticized the federal government for offering vague assurances of progress, which contradict the daily realities of bloodshed and displacement faced by Nigerians. They condemned President Tinubu for prioritizing political funerals and ceremonies over visiting victims of violence, describing such behavior as irresponsible and insensitive.
Recalling earlier deadly attacks in Plateau State this year, the party highlighted the President’s failure to visit or take effective action at the time, remaining confined to the Presidential Villa. The ADC called the President’s claims of progress in fighting insecurity a tragic denial of the nation’s suffering.
The party challenged President Tinubu’s recent claim of wanting national unity, pointing out that his policy approach has instead deepened divisions within Nigeria. They insisted that symbolic acts of unity, like attending church services or wearing traditional attire, cannot substitute for meaningful leadership and presence in troubled areas.
ADC outlined clear recommendations to the government: officially acknowledge the severity of the security crisis; engage honestly with affected states and communities; raise national security alert levels; coordinate joint military and police operations with local authorities; provide regular public updates on security efforts; and implement transparent monitoring of security funding.
The party concluded that Nigeria is under siege and demanded the administration stop treating national security as a political talking point. They stressed that the lives of Nigerians must be valued above political optics and ceremonies. What the country needs now is responsible leadership, swift action, and tangible results in securing peace.
