Bolaji Abdullahi, the spokesperson for the African Democratic Congress, ADC, has criticized President Bola Tinubu’s choice to travel to Europe amid mounting security fears in the country, calling it disrespectful and frightening.
Abdullahi conveyed his views in a statement titled ‘PBAT’s lack of concern alarming,’ which was shared on his official X account on Sunday.
His statement comes after Chronicle NG reported that the president had departed Nigeria for Europe ahead of his participation in the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Summit, where he is expected to engage global leaders on climate action, economic reforms, and sustainable development.
However, Abdullahi claimed that the president’s international travel came at a bad time, as the country is dealing with rising insecurity, including a deadly bomb attack in Zamfara State and increased public fear following the United States’ military strike on Nigerian land.
According to him, when word of the president’s travel surfaced, Nigerians were still waiting for reassurance from him.
“In the wake of yet another deadly bomb blast in Zamfara, to which the President has not said a single word; on the back of an unprecedented foreign military attack on Nigerian soil; right in the middle of all the uncertainty it has provoked; with a confused and scared nation waiting for the President to speak to us and assure us that all is well, the next thing we hear is that the President has gone on holiday. “What a President,” the statement read.
The ADC spokesperson emphasized that the President’s silence on critical national security issues, coupled with his absence from the country, raised serious concerns about leadership responsiveness at a time of national distress.
Chronicle NG reports that Tinubu departed Lagos for Europe on Sunday, as part of his end-of-year break, ahead of his official visit to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
According to a statement issued on Sunday by the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President will attend the 2026 edition of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week Summit at the invitation of the President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The summit is anticipated to take place in early January.
Onanuga stated that the weeklong event would bring together leaders from government, business, and civil society to enhance global discussions about sustainable development.
The 2026 summit will be held under the subject ‘The Nexus of Next: All Systems Go’ and will focus on linking innovation, finance, and people to achieve long-term progress.
