ADC To Tinubu: Fight Terrorists, Not Opposition

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over his declaration that he is prepared to “fight to the finish” politically, urging him to direct such determination towards defeating terrorists, bandits and kidnappers rather than the opposition.

The party also called on the President to abandon his re-election bid, arguing that his administration had failed to adequately protect the lives and property of Nigerians.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC said it was disturbing that Tinubu made the remark during a meeting with members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, amid persistent insecurity across the country.

The party cited the recent attack on Naridon village in Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, where it said at least 30 people were killed, as evidence of what it described as the worsening security situation.

According to the ADC, the President should be more concerned about defeating terrorists and other armed criminals responsible for attacks on communities across the country than engaging in political battles with opposition parties.

The party described Tinubu as Nigeria’s “Statement Maker-in-Chief,” accusing his administration of responding to security attacks largely with condemnations and expressions of sympathy rather than decisive action.

“Mr President, the fight Nigerians elected you to lead is not against the opposition. It is against the terrorists, kidnappers and armed criminals who continue to kill innocent citizens and destabilise communities across the country,” the party said.

The ADC said the Naridon attack occurred only hours before the President’s remarks, alleging that homes were burnt and families displaced in the incident.

It argued that Tinubu, as Commander-in-Chief, should prioritise the protection of lives and property instead of political confrontation.

The party said: “What is equally disturbing is that when it comes to insecurity, President Tinubu is a commentator. However, when it comes to the opposition, he is a combatant.”

The ADC urged Tinubu to reserve his “fight to the finish” rhetoric for terrorists, bandits and kidnappers who, according to the party, continue to shed the blood of Nigerians.

“Instead of preparing for another political fight, President Tinubu should be leading the fight against those who have turned communities across the country into killing fields and forced countless Nigerians from their homes,” it said.

The opposition party further argued that after more than three years in office, the Tinubu administration had yet to demonstrate a security record capable of justifying what it described as the President’s political bravado.

The ADC said the President should be reflecting on his administration’s record rather than “digging in politically,” given what it described as the failure of the government to adequately secure lives and property.

It maintained that elections should be won through performance rather than declarations of political toughness.

“The President’s real opponents are not the opposition. They are terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and the growing insecurity that continues to claim innocent Nigerian lives,” the party said.

“Those are the enemies he was elected to fight, and as things stand today, they remain undefeated.”