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By Myke Agunwa
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticized President Bola Tinubu’s government for what it describes as its failure to protect Nigerians from escalating insecurity and waning regional influence.
The criticism stems from U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to designate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) over the allegations of Christian genocide in the country.
Trump announced this designation on October 31, 2025, under the U.S. International Religious Freedom Act, accusing Nigeria of tolerating attacks on Christians and other vulnerable groups. The classification places Nigeria on a global watchlist of countries allegedly failing to safeguard religious freedom and human rights.
In a statement issued Monday and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC stated that while the U.S. declaration reflected global concern over Nigeria’s human rights situation, the core issue was the broader national crisis of insecurity that has claimed thousands of lives across all regions, tribes, and faiths.
“What is really at stake on this issue are the thousands of human lives that have been lost to insecurity in Nigeria, irrespective of their tribe, religion or region. We seize this moment to pay tribute to the memory of all victims and express our deepest sympathies to their families,” the party said.
The ADC lamented that under President Tinubu’s leadership, violent attacks have worsened, spreading from the North to the South, while terror groups and bandits have expanded their reach unchecked. Citing various reports, the party said nearly 15,000 Nigerians have been killed since Tinubu took office in 2023.
“Entire communities have been sacked, worshippers have been slaughtered in religious spaces, and bandits now control large territories, waging war at will and taxing citizens with impunity,” the ADC said. “Boko Haram, once declared as ‘technically degraded,’ is again growing in strength.”
It also noted that on the same day Trump made his designation, the Al-Qaeda-linked group Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) claimed responsibility for an attack in Kwara State, a concerning sign of terrorism’s southward spread.
The party criticized what it called the Tinubu administration’s “cruel silence, political posturing, and indifference” to the victims’ tragedy, adding that the government has failed to acknowledge the deepening crisis or accept responsibility for it.
The ADC additionally blamed Nigeria’s diplomatic decline on “structural and leadership failures,” pointing out that the government has yet to appoint ambassadors to key countries more than two years into its term.
“Why has the Nigerian government failed to appoint ambassadors to key countries? How can a government boasting of unprecedented revenue success still give lack of funds as an excuse for not appointing ambassadors?” the party asked.
According to the ADC, Nigeria’s shrinking regional influence under Tinubu has also weakened ECOWAS, with smaller nations now seeking leadership elsewhere.
“Nothing underlines this decline more than the fracturing of ECOWAS under his watch,” the statement said. “These failures are not isolated. They point to a government that is incompetent, narrow-minded, and arrogantly detached from reality.”
The ADC recommended several actions, including a thorough overhaul of the national security system, an independent audit of operations and leadership, and the immediate appointment of qualified ambassadors to restore diplomatic ties. It also called for a shift in foreign policy toward national interest, economic reforms to stabilize prices, and a credible social welfare plan to ease hardship.
While praising Trump and other world leaders for expressing concern, the ADC urged that such gestures be directed toward strengthening Nigeria’s democracy and internal capacity to address its problems, rather than through military pressure or intervention.
“Nigeria is not beyond saving, but time is running out. We must act now with courage, clarity, and commitment to protect the lives and dignity of every Nigerian. Certainly, Nigeria cannot continue like this,” the statement concluded.