ADC to Tinubu: Trump’s Letter Won’t Shield You From Nigerians’ Verdict

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has dismissed the Presidency’s celebration of a letter from United States President Donald Trump to President Bola Tinubu, insisting that diplomatic correspondence cannot substitute for the judgment of Nigerians on the administration’s performance.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said President Trump’s communication should not be interpreted as an endorsement of the Tinubu administration or its handling of Nigeria’s security and economic challenges.

The opposition party argued that while exchanges between world leaders are a normal part of international diplomacy, they do not reflect the realities facing ordinary Nigerians.

According to the ADC, the Presidency’s publicisation of the letter demonstrates what it described as a search for external validation rather than a focus on addressing pressing domestic issues.

“The true measure of any government is not what is written about it abroad, but what its citizens experience every day,” the statement said.

The party maintained that the letter does not change the security situation in the country, pointing to the continued abduction of women and children in parts of Borno and Kaiama in Kwara State, as well as persistent attacks on communities in Benue and other states.

The ADC also noted that the United States Department of State continues to maintain Level 3 and Level 4 travel advisories for several parts of Nigeria, warning American citizens about crime, terrorism, kidnapping and civil unrest.

It questioned how the Presidency could portray President Trump’s correspondence as an endorsement while the U.S. government continues to advise its citizens against travelling to parts of Nigeria because of insecurity.

According to the party, diplomatic courtesies exchanged between heads of state cannot replace the government’s responsibility to provide security and improve the welfare of citizens.

The ADC urged the Tinubu administration to focus less on celebrating international recognition and more on delivering measurable improvements in the lives of Nigerians.

It added that the administration would ultimately be judged not by letters received from foreign leaders but by its record on security, the economy and governance.

The statement comes amid increasing political exchanges between the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and opposition parties over the state of the nation ahead of the 2027 general elections.