Protect lives, property before politics, foreign travel, ADC told APC government

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called on the Nigerian government to prioritize the safety of citizens’ lives and property over political engagement and diplomatic activities.

The party was reacting to a deadly bomb blast in Maiduguri, Borno State, which left at least 23 people dead and more than 100 injured.

ADC, in a statement issued on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, stressed that protection of lives and property must come before political engagement and diplomatic activities, and called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately return to his country and take decisive action to address the deteriorating security situation.

On Monday night, three suicide bombings occurred almost simultaneously at Maiduguri’s Monday Market, Post Office and an area near the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital.

ADC urges President Tinubu to return to the country immediately and focus on his core responsibility of ensuring the safety of citizens.

The party added that the incident has once again raised concerns about the security situation in the country.

The statement stated, “The African Democratic Congress strongly condemns the bomb blast that rocked Maiduguri, Borno State, which resulted in the deaths of innocent Nigerians and many others injured. Our hearts go out to the victims, their families, and the people of Maiduguri, a city that has endured immense suffering for years. Terrorism anywhere in Nigeria is an attack on all Nigerians. In times like these, the country must stand together with the people affected by it.

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“We applaud the bravery of the emergency responders and security personnel who worked to assist the injured and restore calm. However, this tragic incident also raises ongoing questions about the state of security in our country. Maiduguri, which in recent years has begun to experience stability after the darkest days of the insurgency, must not return to a situation where coordinated bomb attacks once again threaten the safety of ordinary citizens as they go about their daily lives.

“Times like these require the full and undivided attention of the country’s leaders, so it is very troubling that the President is currently abroad at a time when there is a serious attack on national security.

“At a time when Nigerian soldiers and civilians are being deliberately killed by terrorists, those tasked with protecting the country are focused on the politics of self-succession. The National Security Advisor is going after opposition figures and calling bandits his “brothers”, while the Minister of Defense is on television planning the APC national convention. This is not leadership. This is dangerous distraction, and it is costing lives.”

The coalition parties stated that mere expressions of sympathy and condemnation were no longer enough from the government, and stressed that its primary responsibility was to save lives.

The ADC continued, “In case the government has forgotten, those killed by terrorists are not just numbers. The soldiers killed by bandits are the children, husbands, fathers and family members of the people. In any country, serious security violations will be the government’s full attention. Leaders will return to their countries, address the nation, and take responsibility.

“By contrast, Bola Ahmed Tinubu was abroad, exchanging pleasantries with the King and Queen of England while Nigerians mourned and soldiers were buried. Not a word was spared for the victims or brave soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of Nigeria. His oath of office was clear: the primary duty of government is to protect lives, and that duty has certainly not been fulfilled by this APC government.

“The protection of lives and property is the most fundamental responsibility of any government. It cannot be considered secondary to political distractions or competing priorities. “The ADC, therefore, calls on President Tinubu to return home immediately and show, for once, that he cares about something beyond politics.

“We also think it’s time for the government to start taking full responsibility for every life lost, which can be protected by providing compensation to the families of victims, both military and civilian. While no amount of money can fully compensate for the lives lost, by providing punishments like this, the government will start to accept responsibility.”