The African Democratic Congress, ADC, says no letter from abroad can shield President Bola Tinubu from judgment by Nigerians, insisting that even a letter from U.S. President Donald Trump cannot rescue his administration.
In a statement on Thursday, ADC National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, accused the Presidency of trying to present the correspondence as an endorsement of Tinubu.
The party maintained diplomatic letters cannot replace the verdict of the Nigerian people.
According to ADC, the Presidency’s celebration of the Trump letter reflects “a troubling desperation for international validation” at a time when insecurity and economic hardship continue to affect millions of Nigerians.
It said exchanges of letters between heads of state are routine features of international relations and should not be presented as a referendum on the performance of a government.
“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.
It noted that the letter did not suggest that insecurity had been defeated or that Nigerians could now travel, farm, and sleep without fear.
The ADC also cited the United States Department of State’s travel advisory, which continues to place parts of Nigeria under Level 3 and Level 4 warnings, citing 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 party stated.
It argued that the international assessment of Nigeria’s security situation remains far removed from the optimistic picture being projected 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 persistent attacks in Benue and other communities across the country.
According to the statement, these realities underscore the need for urgent action rather than what it described as political attempts to derive 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 said.
The ADC maintained that President Trump’s communication should be seen for what it is—correspondence between two presidents—and not as a sweeping endorsement of the Tinubu administration’s overall performance.
It urged the Federal Government to focus on delivering measurable improvements in security, economic stability, and the welfare of citizens instead of celebrating diplomatic courtesies from abroad.
“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 added.
