The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has declared that no letter from a foreign leader, including United States President Donald Trump, can shield President Bola Ahmed Tinubu from the judgment of Nigerians over his administration’s performance.
The opposition party dismissed attempts by the Presidency to portray President Trump’s recent letter as an endorsement of Tinubu’s government, insisting that diplomatic correspondence cannot replace the verdict of the Nigerian people.
In a statement issued on Thursday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC described the Presidency’s celebration of the letter as “a troubling desperation for international validation” amid worsening insecurity and economic hardship.
According to the party, exchanges of letters between world leaders are routine diplomatic practices and should not be interpreted as approval of any government’s performance.
“A letter from a foreign president, however well-intentioned, cannot replace the judgment of Nigerians. The true test of any administration is not what is written about it abroad, but what citizens experience in their daily lives,” the statement said.
The ADC noted that the letter did not suggest that insecurity had been defeated or that Nigerians could now travel, farm and sleep without fear.
The party also pointed to the United States Department of State’s travel advisory, which still places parts of Nigeria under Level 3 and Level 4 warnings because of terrorism, kidnapping, violent crime and civil unrest.
“It is difficult to understand how a letter can be celebrated as an endorsement while the same government continues to advise its citizens against travel to several parts of Nigeria because of serious security concerns,” the statement added.
The opposition party argued that the international assessment of Nigeria’s security situation contradicts the rosy picture being painted by the Presidency.
It further expressed concern over the continued captivity of women and children in parts of Borno State and Kaiama in Kwara State, as well as recurring attacks in Benue and other communities across the country.
According to the ADC, these challenges demand urgent government action rather than attempts to derive political legitimacy from diplomatic exchanges.
“No letter offers relief to families living in fear, and no foreign commendation can replace the government’s constitutional duty to protect lives and property,” the party stated.
The ADC maintained that President Trump’s communication should be seen as routine correspondence between two heads of state and not as a blanket endorsement of the Tinubu administration.
It urged the Federal Government to concentrate on improving security, stabilising the economy and enhancing citizens’ welfare.
“Ultimately, Nigerians will judge this government not by the letters it receives from foreign capitals, but by whether it improved the lives of the people it was elected to serve,” the statement concluded.
