The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised President Bola Tinubu for being absent as Nigeria marked Armed Forces Remembrance Day, saying the occasion demands visible leadership and more than ceremonial tributes.
In a statement released on Thursday, January 15, by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the opposition party said the annual remembrance should go beyond wreath-laying and speeches, and instead reflect genuine commitment to securing the country and supporting military families.
Armed Forces Remembrance Day is observed every January 15 in honour of fallen servicemen and women and in recognition of those still serving across different conflict zones.
The ADC said Tinubu’s absence was “deeply troubling,” arguing that the presence of the Commander-in-Chief carries moral significance at a time when soldiers are deployed on multiple fronts and insecurity continues to claim lives.
It stated, “It is therefore deeply troubling that the President of the Federal Republic is absent and unavailable on a day meant to symbolise solidarity with our armed forces and the families who continue to bear the cost of Nigeria’s security failures.
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“At a time when Nigerian soldiers are overstretched across multiple fronts, battling insurgency, banditry, and violent crime, leadership cannot be outsourced, postponed, or treated as ceremonial.
“The physical and moral presence of the Commander-in-Chief on this day is not optional; it is a statement of respect, responsibility, and shared sacrifice.
“The ADC honours the fallen, stands with serving personnel, and recognises the quiet resilience of military families who continue to pay the ultimate price for a nation that has yet to match their sacrifice with competent governance, clear strategy, and genuine political will.
“Remembrance must go beyond wreaths and words. It must be reflected in leadership that shows up, takes responsibility, and places the lives of Nigerians above image management, foreign trips, or political convenience.”