The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has blamed President Bola Tinubu for Nigeria’s growing insecurity and declining global image, following United States President Donald Trump’s decision to label Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern.”
In a statement issued on Monday, November 3, by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said Trump’s move reflects how dire Nigeria’s security situation has become and highlights the government’s failure to protect its people.
“We are guided by the painful reality that what is really at stake on this issue are the thousands of human lives that have been lost to insecurity in Nigeria, irrespective of their tribe, religion, or region,” Abdullahi said.
He noted that Trump’s statement “reminds us of the greater global concern about the sanctity of human life, and the cardinal responsibility of national governments to protect the lives of people who live within their borders.”
Abdullahi, however, maintained that “the characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality, nor does it take into consideration the consistent and sincere efforts of the government to safeguard freedom of religion and beliefs for all Nigerians.”
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Beyond the worsening security situation, the ADC criticised what it described as Tinubu’s “diplomatic negligence,” which it said has further eroded Nigeria’s standing on the international stage.
The party expressed concern over the continued lack of Nigerian ambassadors in key countries nearly two years into the current administration.
“How can a government that has been boasting of unprecedented revenue success continue to give lack of funds as an excuse for not appointing ambassadors?” it asked.
The ADC said the Tinubu government’s failures have weakened Nigeria’s influence both within Africa and globally.
“Under President Tinubu, Nigeria has declined both as a continental and a regional leader,” the party added.