The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has declared that Nigeria faces an “existential crisis” that threatens all citizens, rejecting any purely religious interpretation of the country’s severe insecurity.
The statement followed the recent designation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” by US President Donald Trump and the subsequent threat to send troops to the country to save the Christians community in Northerm Nigeria.
In a detailed response, the opposition party argued that the fundamental issue is the government’s failure in its “most sacred mandate” to protect lives, a failure that has created a national emergency transcending ethnic and religious lines.
The ADC outlined its position, stating, “We are guided by the painful reality that 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.”
The party paid tribute to the victims and their families, framing the US designation as a moment of “sober reflection” rather than a political opportunity.
In the statement signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, ADC argued that President Trump’s action highlights a global principle.
“The statement by President Trump reminds us of the greater global concern about the sanctity of human life, and the cardinal responsibility of national governments to protect the lives of people who live within their borders,” he said.
He added that it underscores how “the dignity and respect of nations are no longer measured by their economic strength alone, but also by their willingness and capacity to protect their own citizens.”
The ADC was sharply critical of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, asserting that it is in this core duty of protection that the government has most profoundly failed.
“Available reports indicate that nearly 15,000 lives have been lost to sundry violent activities since this administration assumed office in 2023,” the party stated, emphasising that “these deaths have occurred across regions and religions, underlining a national crisis that cuts across all divides and still endangers us all, regardless of tribe, region, or religion.”
The response painted a dire picture of the national security situation, noting that “entire communities have been sacked, worshippers have been slaughtered in religious spaces, and bandits now control large territories in our country — waging war at will and levying taxes on citizens with impunity.” It further warned that “Boko Haram, once declared as ‘technically degraded,’ is once again growing in strength, while another international terror group makes open claims of carrying out successful attacks on Nigerian soil.”
To illustrate the expanding nature of the threat, the ADC pointed to an attack on October 31, the same day as President Trump’s announcement, by JNIM, an Al-Qaeda affiliate, in Kwara State, a region previously considered a gateway to the more stable south.
“The crisis that we face is therefore not about any ethnic or religious group being targeted for killing; it is an existential crisis that imperils all Nigerians,” the party argued.
“Quite significantly, it is also not about which region or religion has lost more lives; it is about every individual’s right to life. Life and death are absolutes, and they must never be reduced to statistics. The ADC believes that one life lost that could have been saved is one death too many.”
While acknowledging that the insecurity predates the current government, the ADC accused President Tinubu of a failure of leadership. “The problem is that President Tinubu has refused to acknowledge that the crisis has got worse under his watch and has refused to accept responsibility. Instead, Nigerians have been met with excuses, cruel silence, or utter indifference, and political posturing that mocks the tragedy of victims and their families.”
The party also linked the security collapse to broader governance failures, criticising the government’s diplomatic absenteeism. “Why has the Nigerian government failed to appoint ambassadors to key countries more than two years into its term?” it asked, suggesting that Nigeria’s influence has waned dramatically under President Tinubu’s watch, culminating in the “fracturing of ECOWAS.”
As a way forward, the party proposed a five-point plan. Its recommendations include “a full overhaul of the national security apparatus, including an independent audit of operations, leadership, and strategy,” and the “immediate appointment of qualified ambassadors, to restore Nigeria’s diplomatic presence and strategic influence.” It also called for “a reset of foreign policy, grounded in national interest, not personal promotion,” and “urgent economic reforms, focused on price stability.” Finally, it demanded “an end to the personalization of public institutions, and a return to accountable, citizen-focused governance.”
While expressing appreciation for international concern, the ADC cautioned against military intervention. “We will, however, urge that such concerns should be translated into supporting Nigeria to grow her democracy and develop its capacity to solve its own problems. We believe that mobilizing armed troops, or even a mere threat of doing so, would do more harm than good and ultimately prove counterproductive to our democratic aspiration.”
The party ended with a grave warning: “Nigeria is not beyond saving, but time is running out. We must act now, with courage, clarity, and a commitment to protect the lives and dignity of every Nigerian. Certainly, Nigeria cannot continue like this.”
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