UK visit: Return home, focus on protecting lives, ADC tells Tinubu

Accuses top govt officials of prioritising politics over national safety

Emeka Agu Jnr

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised what it described as lack of leadership amid serious security challenges in the country, calling on President Bola Tinubu, who is currently in the United Kingdom on a state visit, to immediately return home and focus on protection of lives.

This is even as the opposition party strongly condemned the bomb blasts in Maiduguri, Borno State that killed at least 23 people and injured many others.

Recall that the explosions were suspected to have been carried out by members of the terror group, Boko Haram.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC noted that the President was abroad while senior government officials responsible for national security were allegedly occupied with political matters.

“Moments like this demand the full and undivided attention of the nation’s leadership. It is therefore troubling that the President is currently outside the country at a time when such a serious attack on national security occurred,” the statement added.

The ADC further accused top officials of prioritising politics over national safety.

“At a time when Nigerian soldiers and civilians are being wilfully killed by terrorists, those charged with protecting the country are focused on politics of self-succession,” it said.

The party urged the President to return urgently and focus on protecting lives.

“The protection of lives and property is the most basic responsibility of any government. It cannot be treated as secondary to political distractions or competing priorities,” the ADC said.

“The ADC therefore calls on President Tinubu to return immediately to the country and show, for once, that he cares about something else other than his politics.”

The party also recommended that the government take responsibility for security failures by compensating families affected by the attacks.

“We also think it is about time that government started to take full responsibility for every life lost that could have been protected by paying compensation to the families of victims, whether military or civilians,” the statement said.

The party while condemning the Monday night explosions in Maiduguri, expressed sympathy for the victims and their families.

“The African Democratic Congress strongly condemns the bomb blasts that have shaken Maiduguri, Borno State, leaving innocent Nigerians dead and many others injured.

“Our hearts go out to the victims, their families, and the people of Maiduguri, a city that has endured more than its fair share of pain over the years. Terrorism anywhere in Nigeria is an attack on all Nigerians,” the statement said.

The party emphasised that national tragedies require unity and compassion for affected communities. It also commended security personnel and emergency responders involved in rescue efforts.

“We commend the courage of first responders and security personnel who are working to assist the injured and restore calm,” the statement noted.

However, the ADC said the attack raised serious concerns about security across the country. It noted that Maiduguri had only recently begun to experience relative stability after years of insurgency.

“Maiduguri, which in recent years had begun to experience a measure of stability after the darkest days of the insurgency, should not be returning to a situation where coordinated bomb attacks once again threaten the safety of ordinary citizens going about their daily lives,” the party said.