The African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition sharply criticised President Bola Tinubu’s administration on Thursday for prioritising the Palestinian cause in a United Nations address while Nigerians endure rampant bandit attacks and economic despair.
In a statement issued hours after Vice President Kashim Shettima delivered Tinubu’s speech at the UN General Assembly, the opposition group accused the government of seeking “international relevance” at the expense of domestic priorities. “Instead of rallying global partners to help Nigeria overcome its grave internal crises, this government chose to focus on another nation’s struggles,” said Jackie Wayas, the ADC’s deputy national publicity secretary.
Wayas highlighted the “national shame” of armed bandits staging a brazen press conference in Katsina State just days earlier, with gunmen draped in ammunition openly defying authorities. “This is not just an embarrassment, it is a national shame and an indictment of any government that claims to have control over its territory,” she added.
The coalition decried Nigeria’s “breaking point,” where insecurity has forced farmers to abandon fields, crippled food production, and driven up prices for essentials, exacerbating hunger across multiple states. “Nigerians are not collateral damage in a government searching for relevance on the international stage,” Wayas stated, echoing Tinubu’s own UN phrasing on Palestine but redirecting it toward local woes.
While affirming solidarity with Palestinians’ “legitimate quest for dignity,” the ADC urged reciprocal global attention to Nigeria’s plight. “We hope that when Palestine addresses the world, it will also speak about the killings, kidnappings, hunger, and suffering in Nigeria. That would be the true spirit of shared humanity,” Wayas remarked.
The group demanded “urgent and concrete action” from the administration, including measures to protect farmers, stabilise food prices, and eradicate banditry, dismissing foreign-focused rhetoric as insufficient. No immediate response from the presidency was available, but the rebuke underscores deepening political rifts as Nigeria grapples with intertwined security and economic threats.
