The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s departure for Europe, calling the timing a troubling show of disconnect as Nigeria grapples with serious security threats.
In a statement posted on Sunday via his official X account and titled “PBAT’s lack of care scary,” ADC spokesperson Bolaji Abdullahi said the President’s decision to travel abroad while the country reels from foreign military action and renewed terrorist violence is insensitive and alarming.
The rebuke follows confirmed U.S. airstrikes on ISIS-linked targets in northwest Nigeria and a deadly bomb explosion in Zamfara State. Abdullahi argued that Nigerians expected a national address to calm fears, not news of a presidential trip.
He faulted the President’s silence on both incidents, noting that citizens remain anxious and uncertain. “With a confused and scared nation waiting for reassurance, the next thing we hear is that the President has gone on holiday,” he said.
Despite the criticism, the Presidency defended the trip. President Tinubu left Lagos on Sunday for an end-of-year break in Europe, ahead of an official visit to the United Arab Emirates.
His Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the President will attend the 2026 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week Summit at the invitation of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Onanuga described the summit as a key forum for global leaders to discuss climate action and economic reforms. The event holds under the theme “The Nexus of Next: All Systems Go,” with a focus on linking innovation, finance, and people to drive sustainable growth.
However, the ADC insists that the contrast between the foreign engagement and pressing security challenges at home has deepened public concern. Abdullahi warned that the President’s perceived lack of urgency during a period of national distress risks eroding confidence in the administration’s handling of security.
Although Tinubu is expected back on the continent in early January, criticism over his departure amid ongoing military and terrorist activity continues to mount.
