•Tinubu and ADC
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised the comments credited to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, suggesting that a remark by the United States (US) President, Donald Trump, somehow triggered recent attacks in Kebbi and Kwara states.
Rather than dwell on external influences, the ADC insisted that the focus should remain on the rising wave of violent assaults across the country and the urgent need for leadership clarity and concrete response, reports Daily Independent.
The party expressed shock that a distant social media remark was being framed as the spark behind tragedies that Nigerians have battled for years.
ADC, in a statement yesterday in Abuja by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, noted that it was unsettled by the position attributed to the SGF.
According to the ADC, “It is surprised by the comments attributed to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, in which he bizarrely blames recent terrorist attacks in Kebbi and Kwara states on remarks made by U.S. President, Donald Trump.”
The ADC argued that the pattern of violence predates any foreign commentary and has long become a painful feature of daily life for many communities.
It stressed that relying on an overseas statement to explain the escalating situation offers no comfort to citizens who are demanding action, not theories.
The party described the development as an unfortunate shift of attention.
“We find it quite appalling that the APC-led federal government now claims its security failures are caused by a tweet by the president of another country. This is a shameful abdication of responsibility, a confirmation that the Tinubu government is overwhelmed by the security situation in the country and is clueless how to go about solving it,” the statement added.
Highlighting the years of kidnappings, school invasions, attacks on worship centres and rural communities, the ADC said the rate and boldness of these crimes have grown because the perpetrators encounter little deterrence.
“For years under the APC administration, Nigerians have suffered horrific massacres, mass abductions and assaults on schools and worship centres. This situation has worsened with each passing year, particularly under the current administration as the bandits and terrorists get more emboldened by government’s failure to respond appropriately,” the party said.
The party rejected attempts to tie the situation to a foreign politician’s online comment, insisting that the roots of the crisis lie within Nigeria.
“It is therefore disingenuous to blame one tweet for the state of insecurity in Nigeria. Those killing Nigerians did not need to be instigated by Trump, they were already actively encouraged by a government that consistently fails to act decisively to stop the carnage, a government that is, even after nearly three years in office, still celebrating its electoral victory while the country is turned to a killing field.”
It questioned how a nation that regularly asserts its independence could attribute its internal difficulties to outside commentary.
“How can a government that takes pride in its sovereignty and has no any modicum of self respect blame one statement by a foreign leader for the collapse of its security system? Are we so vulnerable that a social media post from Washington can that easily turn our country upside down?” ADC asked.
The statement further queried what concrete assessments or steps were taken if the government truly viewed Trump’s words as a threat.
“If indeed Mr. Trump’s statement constitutes such a security threat, what has been the government’s evaluation of that threat and what measures have the government put in place to mitigate the potential threat that could emanate from it? This is what any serious government would do. It would not just wait for these opportunistic attacks to start shopping for who to blame for its incompetence.”
The party maintained that the public is weary of explanations that shift focus away from solutions.
“Nigerians are tired of this government’s mentality and approach to tackling this problem of insecurity. But how can a government that is incapable of accepting responsibility be trusted to find a solution?”
The ADC concluded that the origins of the crisis remain homegrown. “There is no doubt about this: Nigeria is under siege because of the Tinubu-led APC government’s domestic negligence and incompetence rather than President Trump’s social media post.
“Serving military officers should be made to concentrate more on military duties. Veterans on retirement should be engaged to supplement the serving officers. Community leaders should be integrated into the security apparatus of their respective places and be warned that they would face the music where and when complicity or sabotage is proven against any of them. State police should be set up immediately while machinery for the necessary constitutional framework is set in motion. Genuine capacity-building should be done regularly for officers. Anti-graft agencies can beam searchlights on defence spending.
“As is known, politicians, the world over, often vilify their opponents. Nigeria politicians are no exceptions. Those who are overtly or covertly encouraging banditry for (present or expected) political gains should remember that they can successfully operate as politicians only in a safe environment.
“Governments should be more forthcoming on enhancing the socio-economic condition of the people. This can be done through short-term, mid-term and long-term measures.
“Peace building efforts involving meetings of stakeholders in various communities with a view to reminding them that banditry has no intrinsic benefits whatsoever be instituted. Perceived collaborators should be reined-in with both carrots and sticks.”
