The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has blamed Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration for the worsening insecurity that led to U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent decision to designate Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” a move that comes amid reports of Christian persecution and mass killings across the nation.
In a statement issued on Monday and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC said the Tinubu government’s “failure to protect lives” has brought Nigeria to a breaking point, attracting international alarm and now the threat of possible U.S. military intervention.
“The statement by President Trump reminds us of the global concern about the sanctity of human life,” the ADC said. “It is sad to note that it is in this most sacred mandate of government that the Tinubu administration has failed most.”
The party expressed concern that over 15,000 Nigerians have lost their lives to violent attacks since Tinubu assumed office in 2023, noting that killings now cut across all regions and religions. It added that terrorists and bandits continue to operate freely, levying taxes on citizens and overrunning communities.
“Entire communities have been sacked, worshippers have been slaughtered in religious spaces, and bandits now control large territories,” the ADC stated.
The opposition party further condemned the federal government’s “refusal to accept responsibility,” accusing Tinubu of responding to national tragedy with “excuses, cruel silence, or utter indifference.”
According to the ADC, the administration’s negligence has not only weakened Nigeria’s internal security but also eroded its standing in the international community. It noted that the failure to appoint ambassadors to key countries more than two years into Tinubu’s presidency has deepened Nigeria’s diplomatic isolation and left its image in disarray.
“Why has our foreign policy become so deeply personalized and focused on the image of the president and his interests, rather than the image of Nigeria and the interests of the Nigerian people?” the statement queried.
The party also faulted Nigeria’s diminishing influence in West Africa, pointing to the fracturing of ECOWAS under Tinubu’s leadership. It urged the federal government to undertake a complete overhaul of the national security apparatus including an independent audit of leadership and operations while immediately appointing qualified ambassadors to restore Nigeria’s diplomatic presence.
The ADC further called for a foreign policy reset rooted in national interest rather than personal image-building, alongside urgent economic reforms to stabilize prices, strengthen social welfare, and end the personalization of public institutions in favour of transparent, accountable governance.
While commending President Trump and other world leaders for expressing concern, the ADC urged them to channel their efforts into helping Nigeria strengthen its democracy rather than considering military intervention.
“Mobilizing armed troops, or even a mere threat of doing so, would do more harm than good,” the party cautioned. “Nigeria is not beyond saving, but time is running out. We must act now, with courage and clarity.”
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