The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised the Bola Tinubu administration for its performance at the United Nations, accusing it of focusing on the plight of Palestinians while neglecting Nigeria’s escalating insecurity and severe economic hardship.
In a statement released on Thursday, ADC Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Jackie Wayas, described the address delivered by Vice President Kashim Shettima as a “missed opportunity” to secure international support for Nigeria’s deepening crises.
Wayas mamented that Nigeria is “at a breaking point,” citing a surge in banditry that has led to communities being overrun, farmers abandoning their fields, and the collapse of food production in several states.
This internal chaos, she noted, is coupled with the skyrocketing cost of essential goods.
The spokesperson highlighted the recent shocking incident where heavily armed bandits brazenly held a press conference in Katsina State.
Wayas described the event as “not just an embarrassment, it is a national shame and an indictment of any government that claims to have control over its territory”.
Accusing the Tinubu government of prioritising foreign relevance over urgent domestic problems, Wayas stated: “Instead of rallying global partners to help Nigeria overcome its grave internal crises, this government chose to focus on another nation’s struggles.
Nigerians deserve leadership that puts their security, dignity, and wellbeing first.”
She further warned that widespread hunger has become a daily reality due to insecurity crippling food production and distribution networks. “We remind the Presidency that charity begins at home,” Wayas declared.
“Nigerians are not collateral damage in a government searching for relevance on the international stage.”
While expressing sympathy for the Palestinian people, the ADC stressed that Nigerian leaders must first address the killings, kidnappings, and hunger plaguing the country.
Wayas concluded with a challenge: “While we share in the Palestinian people’s legitimate quest for dignity, 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 and solidarity.”