Opposition campaign council urges President to learn from Macron’s reported visit postponement
The African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council (ADC-PCC) has criticised President Bola Tinubu over what it described as a lack of empathy in responding to insecurity, hunger and economic hardship, urging him to demonstrate greater compassion and accountability in addressing the plight of Nigerians.
The council said the reported postponement of French President Emmanuel Macron’s scheduled state visit to Nigeria offered a lesson in leadership, arguing that the welfare of citizens should take priority when a country faces serious domestic challenges.
Macron’s visit, initially scheduled for October 28 and 29, 2026, was also expected to feature the France-Nigeria Business Forum in Lagos but was reportedly rescheduled for early 2027.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday, the ADC-PCC Director of Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, said the development underscored the need for leaders to remain sensitive to the concerns of their citizens.
“A president will not travel when his home is contending with internal combustion,” the statement quoted a Nigerian official familiar with the development as saying.
The opposition campaign council argued that Nigerians’ welfare should remain central to governance, particularly amid persistent insecurity, rising living costs and other socioeconomic challenges.
It listed Plateau, Niger, Benue, Zamfara, Kaduna, Kogi, Kwara, Katsina and Sokoto among states affected by attacks and killings, adding that reports of mass abductions, displacement and alleged unlawful detentions required urgent government attention.
The council accused Tinubu of failing to demonstrate sufficient public empathy in response to the challenges, claiming that his official engagements had not adequately reflected the suffering of affected communities.
It also raised concerns over a reported incident in Niger State involving the detention of more than 60 young Nigerians under allegedly inhumane conditions, with over 37 reportedly dying in custody.
Describing the allegations as a grave national concern, the ADC-PCC called for urgent intervention, accountability and compassion for the families of those affected.
The council maintained that incidents involving loss of life and allegations of unlawful detention required transparent investigations and clear explanations from the relevant authorities.
It further claimed that Vice President Kashim Shettima visited the state weeks after the incident, following an earlier visit by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to commiserate with affected communities and bereaved families.
According to the council, leaders should demonstrate concern not only through official statements but also by visiting affected communities and engaging directly with victims and their families.
It argued that empathy, accountability and respect for human life were essential qualities of responsive leadership, particularly during national emergencies.
“President Macron has offered a reminder that the concerns of citizens must remain central to leadership. When a country faces a serious domestic crisis, its leadership must demonstrate urgency, compassion and a willingness to take responsibility,” the council said.
The ADC-PCC urged the Tinubu administration to strengthen efforts to protect lives, address insecurity and introduce concrete measures to ease the economic hardship confronting Nigerians.
It also called for accountability in cases involving deaths in custody and alleged unlawful detention, insisting that affected families deserved justice and answers.
The council said Nigeria needed leadership that listened to citizens, responded decisively to emergencies and treated the protection of human life as a fundamental responsibility of government.
However, the allegations and criticisms contained in the statement represent the position of the ADC-PCC.
