The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of showing continued insensitivity to Nigeria’s worsening security crisis.

In a statement on Sunday signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party faulted the President for prioritising political appearances over his constitutional duty to protect the lives and property of citizens.

The ADC dismissed Tinubu’s remarks at the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN), Jos, where he pledged to unite Nigerians, describing them as “mere political rhetoric.” The party insisted that the President’s actions since taking office do not reflect any real commitment to national unity.

“The President’s continued preference for attending social and political events in the midst of alarming deterioration of internal security is both unacceptable and irresponsible,” the statement read.

The opposition party cited recent violent incidents across the country, including reports that nine local government areas in Kwara State have come under siege by armed bandits, with residents forced to provide food, drinks, and money as ransom payments. Similar attacks were also reported in Kogi State, where travellers were killed and several others abducted.

The ADC lamented that more than 180 schools in northern Nigeria have been shut down due to insecurity, warning that rural communities are being emptied while the government continues to issue “vague assurances” of progress.

“Despite this reality, the President continues to attend funerals and ceremonies involving political associates, sending the unfortunate message that he cares more about political appearances than the lives of Nigerian citizens,” the party said.

The ADC also recalled the mass killings in Plateau State earlier in the year, accusing Tinubu of failing to visit the affected communities at the time and instead issuing “directives that no one obeyed” from the Presidential Villa.

According to the party, Tinubu’s claim of progress in tackling insecurity amounts to “tragic denial” of the daily realities of Nigerians, describing it as either “cruel indifference or oversimplification.”

The ADC listed a series of recommendations to the federal government, including:

  • Acknowledging the scale of the security crisis rather than making “insensitive claims of progress.”

  • Engaging directly with affected communities and states to hear their stories and ideas.

  • Elevating national security alertness and coordinating joint deployments of military and police.

  • Committing to regular public reporting of security incidents and responses.

  • Establishing a transparent mechanism to track and audit federal security spending.

“Nigeria is under attack. This administration must stop pretending otherwise,” the ADC warned. “The lives of Nigerians must matter more than soundbites and ceremonies. The time for symbolic gestures is over. What the country needs now is responsible leadership, operational urgency, and measurable results.”