“Fight terrorists, kidnappers, not the opposition”, ADC told Tinubu

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticized President Bola Tinubu for his statement that he is ready to “fight to the end” politically, and instead urged him to focus on tackling terrorism, banditry and other security challenges facing the country.

The party said this in reaction to the president’s comments that he would not roll out the red carpet to his opponents in the 2027 elections, and that whoever plans to oust him, must be “ready to fight to the end”.

In a statement signed by National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party described the President’s statement as inappropriate, and noted that the statement came amidst worsening insecurity, including the recent attack on Naridon village in Kauru Local Government Area of ​​Kaduna State, in which at least 30 people were reported killed.

The ADC expressed concern that President Tinubu chose to meet with Catholic bishops at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, to express his readiness to “fight to the end” politically while Nigerians continue to live under the threat of terrorism, banditry and violent crime.

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According to the party, the President should direct this determination towards defeating terrorists, kidnappers and other armed criminal groups, not at political opposition.

“The struggle led by the Nigerian citizens you elected is not against the opposition. It is against terrorists, kidnappers and armed criminals who continue to kill innocent citizens and destabilize societies across the country,” the statement said.

The party noted that the President’s comments came just hours after the attack on Naridon village, which it said left at least 30 people dead, houses destroyed and many residents displaced.

Describing Tinubu as Nigeria’s “Statement Leader”, ADC accused the government of responding to security incidents with repeated condemnations and messages of sympathy, rather than decisive action.

The report argues that although the President has been a “commentator” on insecurity, he has chosen to be a “warrior” against the opposition.

The party stated that the President should keep his promise to “fight to the end” for terrorists, bandits and kidnappers, not for opposition parties.

The ADC further argued that, after more than three years in office, the government could not demonstrate a security record that justified what they described as political courage, and insisted that the election should be won on the basis of performance and not on claims of political toughness.

He added that the President’s real opponents were terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and the broader insecurity facing the country, and said that these were still challenges that the Nigerian people were expected to defeat.