The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised President Bola Tinubu over his declaration that he was prepared to “fight to the finish” politically, urging him to channel the same determination toward tackling terrorism, banditry and kidnapping.
The opposition party said Nigerians expected the President to confront the country’s worsening security challenges rather than engage in political battles with the opposition.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC described the timing of Tinubu’s remarks as unfortunate, noting that they came during a meeting with members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, just hours after gunmen reportedly killed at least 30 people in Naridon village, Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
“Nigerians did not elect a Commander-in-Chief to become the nation’s chief issuer of condolence statements,” the party said.
“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 ADC said the attack on Naridon village, which reportedly left homes destroyed and families displaced, underscored the need for stronger action against insecurity.
According to Abdullahi, the federal government’s response to recurring attacks had become predictable.
“After every attack comes another statement. After every massacre comes another condemnation. After every tragedy comes another expression of sympathy,” he said.
The party further accused Tinubu of appearing more forceful in responding to political opponents than in addressing the country’s security crisis.
“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,” Abdullahi said.
“Mr President should reserve decisive words and actions like ‘fight to the finish’ to defeat the terrorists, bandits and kidnappers who continue to shed innocent Nigerian blood, not the opposition who want to save Nigerians from his misrule and failure.”
The ADC argued that more than three years into Tinubu’s administration, the government had yet to demonstrate a security record that justified what it described as political bravado.
It maintained that the President should prioritise reclaiming communities affected by criminal violence instead of preparing for political contests.
“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. Those are the enemies he was elected to fight, and as things stand today, they remain undefeated,” the party said.
The party added that elections are won through performance rather than political rhetoric, urging the President to focus on restoring security and protecting the lives of Nigerians.
