Insecurity: ADC Says Tinubu Distracted by Politics

.US Embassy action signals loss of faith in President, party says

.Treat America’s evacuation of embassy staff as national emergency, Obi tells Tinubu

Chuks Okocha in Abuja 

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of being distracted by political calculations at a time of escalating national insecurity, warning that recent actions by the United States government signal a growing loss of international confidence in his administration’s ability to keep Nigeria safe.

Also, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 presidential election and chieftain of ADC, Mr. Peter Obi, has said Nigeria should treat the recent directive by the United States to evacuate its embassy staff from Nigeria due to rising insecurity in the country as a national emergency.

In a statement signed by Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, the party said the authorisation by the United States for the departure of non-emergency embassy staff and their families from Abuja is not merely procedural, but a clear and consequential signal of declining trust in Nigeria’s security architecture under the current leadership.

The ADC said that while mourning Brigadier General Oseni Omoh Braimah and other soldiers killed in a terrorists attack in Borno State, it further lamented that the tragedy underscores a broader pattern of systemic failure, warning that repeated assurances without results have become the defining feature of the government’s response to insecurity.

The ADC mourned the tragic loss of Brigadier General Braimah and the brave soldiers of the Nigerian Army who were killed in the recent terrorist attack in Borno State.

“We honour their courage and their service. Behind every fallen soldier is a family permanently altered, a future cut short, and a sacrifice that can never truly be repaid. We stand in solidarity with their loved ones.

“But even as we mourn, we must confront a deeper and more troubling reality,” adding that, “As of April 9, 2026, the United States government authorised the departure of non-emergency staff and their families from its embassy in Abuja due to a deteriorating security situation. 

“For a country like the United States to take such a step, after initial efforts at cooperation and engagement with the Nigerian government, it signals a clear loss of confidence in the ability of this administration to guarantee safety and stability.

“This is not a routine administrative decision. It is a verdict. Yet, at a moment that demands urgency, focus, and leadership, the Nigerian Government appears preoccupied with political manoeuvring ahead of the 2027 general elections. 

“The President is so consumed by politics that he is increasingly losing sight of his primary responsibility, which is the protection of the lives of Nigerians.

“Across the North-west, North-central, North-east, and the Middle Belt, attacks have become frequent, coordinated, and devastating. Communities are being overrun, lives are being lost, and citizens are being left to fend for themselves. 

“These are not isolated incidents. They are part of a sustained pattern,” the spokesman of the party lamented.

Abdullahi said there were credible reports that in some cases, warnings were issued ahead of attacks but no effective preventive action was taken. 

According to him, “What follows is now predictable: statements, condolences, and assurances that such incidents will not happen again. But they do.

“From Plateau to Benue to Borno, the pattern has remained the same. The language of response has not changed, but the outcomes have not improved. 

“At this point, ‘never again’ has become a refrain that is no longer matched by results.

“The bravery of our soldiers is not in doubt. They continue to serve with courage under extremely difficult conditions,” he stressed.

Abdullahi said that the problem lies not with those on the front lines, but with the system that is meant to support them.

“The death of a general in active service is not just a tragedy. It is a signal of deeper structural and leadership failures that must be urgently addressed.

“As Commander-in-Chief, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu bears the ultimate responsibility for the direction and effectiveness of Nigeria’s security response. This moment demands leadership that is focused, decisive, and accountable.

“But instead, we are witnessing a President who is so preoccupied with politics that he has reduced his role as Commander-in-Chief to merely issuing condolences and condemnations,” Abdullahi said.

The ADC therefore called on the President to refocus his administration on the primary responsibility of protecting lives and securing the country. 

“This requires a clear reset of strategy, improved coordination, and measurable outcomes that Nigerians can see and trust.

“Certainly, the current approach, whatever it is, is not delivering results. 

“The President should have the humility to admit that he has failed, and every single life lost under his watch is evidence of this tragic failure.

“This is not about politics. It is about responsibility. It is about ensuring that the sacrifices of our soldiers are not in vain and that Nigerians can live without fear.

“Until there is a clear break from the current pattern, both Nigerians and the international community will continue to question the willingness of this government to meet its most basic obligation,” the ADC spokesman stated.

In the same vein, Obi in a statement issued yesterday described the situation as “Deeply worrisome, especially for a country already struggling to attract investors.”

He noted that Nigeria currently ranks fourth in the Global Terrorism Index, while insecurity continues to worsen, with lives being lost and communities under constant threat.

“There is a glaring absence of effective governance; instead, what prevails are schemes that undermine democratic processes, as though politics has taken precedence over the safety of citizens,” Obi stated.

According to him, the U.S. directive is a clear signal of declining confidence in the national security architecture.

He added that reports concerning the loss of yet another Army Brigadier General to terrorists in Borno earlier in the week, were disturbing.

Obi stated that a nation where people cannot live, work, worship, or travel safely cannot progress or attract investment.

“The primary duty of any government is the protection of lives and property, yet in this regard, we as leaders have fallen short over the years.

“Our failure continues to place immense strain on our troops, who make the ultimate sacrifices,” he said.

The former Anambra State governor regretted that as Nigeria deteriorates, “leaders, like Nero, remain preoccupied with politics, forgetting that without security, there is no nation to govern and no future to campaign for.”