RismadarVoice Reporters
July 23, 2026
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has dismissed the Presidency’s celebration of a reported letter from United States President, Donald Trump to President Bola Tinubu, insisting that diplomatic correspondence cannot replace Nigerians’ assessment of the administration’s performance.
In a statement issued on Thursday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the opposition party accused the Federal Government of seeking international validation while many Nigerians continue to grapple with economic hardship, insecurity and declining living standards.
The ADC argued that exchanges of letters between heads of state are routine diplomatic engagements and should not be interpreted as endorsements of a government’s achievements.
According to the party, the reported communication from President Trump neither changes the country’s security situation nor addresses the economic challenges confronting millions of Nigerians.
“What is apparent, however, is this administration’s desperation to seize upon any gesture of international recognition as proof of success at home. A letter from a foreign president, however well-intentioned, cannot substitute for the verdict of the Nigerian people. The true measure of any government is not what is written about it abroad, but what its citizens experience every day,” the statement read.
The ADC maintained that President Tinubu’s legacy would ultimately be determined by the impact of his administration on the lives of Nigerians rather than by diplomatic exchanges with foreign leaders.
“Ultimately, Nigerians will not judge this government by the letters it receives from foreign capitals. They will judge it by whether it improved the lives of the people it was elected to serve,” the party stated.
The opposition party further described the excitement surrounding the reported letter as misplaced, arguing that it offered no solution to the country’s worsening security challenges.
It cited the continued captivity of hundreds of women and children in parts of Borno State and Kaiama in Kwara State, as well as recurring attacks on communities in Benue and other parts of the country.
According to the ADC, diplomatic correspondence provides little comfort to citizens living under the constant threat of terrorism, banditry and kidnapping.
“For the millions of Nigerians still living with the consequences of this government’s failures, President Trump’s communication changes nothing. It did not say that insecurity has been overcome or that Nigerians can once again travel freely, farm safely and sleep without fear,” the statement added.
The party also questioned what it described as a contradiction between the Presidency’s celebration of the reported letter and the travel advisories issued by the United States government for parts of Nigeria.
It noted that while the Presidency portrayed the communication as evidence of growing international confidence, the US Department of State continues to maintain Level Three and Level Four travel advisories for several Nigerian states over concerns including terrorism, kidnapping, violent crime and civil unrest.
“We therefore wonder how correspondence from a government that designates several Nigerian states as ‘Do Not Travel’ areas can be regarded as an endorsement. That advisory alone is a reminder that, whatever diplomatic courtesies may be exchanged between presidents, the international assessment of Nigeria’s security challenges remains far removed from the picture the Presidency is eager to paint,” Abdullahi said.
The ADC stressed that commendations from foreign leaders cannot replace the Federal Government’s constitutional responsibility to protect lives and improve the welfare of citizens.
The party urged the Tinubu administration to focus more on addressing Nigeria’s domestic challenges and delivering tangible results rather than celebrating diplomatic exchanges.
