Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has challenged the Presidency to publish the reported letter from United States President Donald Trump, insisting that it should stop presenting what he described as a routine diplomatic correspondence as an endorsement of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Frank, in a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja, argued that any genuine communication from the American President should bear the official White House seal and President Trump’s signature.
According to him, the letter being celebrated by the Federal Government does not amount to political support for Tinubu or his administration but merely acknowledges Nigeria’s cooperation with the United States on security matters.
“The letter is not from the White House. If it doesn’t have the White House seal and the signature of the President of the United States, it appears dubious at best,” Frank said.
He maintained that even if the letter exists, it should not be interpreted as an endorsement of Tinubu’s leadership or policies.
“The letter only commended Nigeria for partnering with the United States in addressing insecurity. That is the only reason President Trump may have written it. It was not an endorsement of President Tinubu’s leadership, his economic policies or his administration. It did not say the Trump administration is backing President Tinubu or supporting him for any election in Nigeria. The Presidency is only trying to change the narrative by presenting it as something more than it is,” he said.
Frank, who is the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) Ambassador to East Africa and the Middle East, alleged that the publicity surrounding the reported correspondence was intended to divert attention from discussions over court documents relating to President Tinubu’s alleged past drug-related matters.
He noted that the letter was reportedly dated July 6 but only surfaced publicly weeks later, arguing that if it truly represented a significant political endorsement from President Trump, it would have been released immediately.
Describing such correspondence as standard diplomatic practice, Frank said countries working with the United States on security and strategic interests frequently exchange letters of commendation, adding that such communication should not be mistaken for political backing.
“By celebrating this ‘letter’, the government is showing that it is looking for legitimacy and credibility before the international community. If it had confidence in its credibility, it would not make so much of an ordinary diplomatic letter,” he stated.
The former APC spokesman also recalled that former President Muhammadu Buhari was invited to the White House during President Trump’s first term, arguing that the visit carried greater diplomatic significance than a reported letter.
“President Trump invited Buhari when he was President. They stood together and addressed the world. If Tinubu believes President Trump is impressed with his administration, then he should visit Trump and stand side by side with him so the world can hear directly what he has achieved,” he said.
Frank further questioned reports that the Federal Government had spent millions of dollars on lobbyists in the United States to improve its international image, arguing that a government with genuine international credibility would have little need for such efforts.
He also maintained that the United States has consistently projected itself as a defender of democracy, electoral integrity, the rule of law and the protection of human rights.
“The United States will never support a government that is corrupt, cannot protect the lives of its citizens, or is tyrannical. America will always stand for democracy, election integrity and the protection of lives. Nigerians should not be deceived by the celebration of this ‘letter’. The United States remains committed to supporting efforts to address insecurity, protect election integrity and promote democratic values in Nigeria. That should not be mistaken for an endorsement of the Tinubu administration,” he said.
Frank insisted that issues surrounding the release of court documents relating to President Tinubu’s alleged past drug-related case remain matters of public interest and should not be overshadowed by what he described as attempts to derive political capital from a routine diplomatic exchange.
He urged the Tinubu administration to publish the purported letter allegedly signed by President Trump.
“Ultimately, credibility and integrity cannot be conferred by a letter, a diplomatic exchange or a public relations campaign. They are earned through transparent leadership, accountability, respect for democratic institutions and faithful service to the people,” Frank said.
