ADC slams Tinubu’s Europe trip amid US military strikes, Zamfara blast

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has launched a scathing critique of President Bola Tinubu’s departure for Europe, describing the timing of the trip as a “scary” display of detachment from the nation’s current security crisis.

In a statement released on his official X account on Sunday, titled ‘PBAT’s lack of care scary’, ADC spokesperson Bolaji Abdullahi argued that the President’s decision to leave the country while citizens are reeling from a foreign military strike and domestic terrorism is both insensitive and alarming.

The criticism comes as Nigeria navigates a period of intense uncertainty. Following the confirmed U.S. military strikes against ISIS targets in the Northwest and a tragic bombing in Zamfara State, Abdullahi contended that the public was expecting a national broadcast of reassurance, not news of a presidential holiday.

The ADC spokesperson expressed his frustration with the President’s silence on these pivotal events:

“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.

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Despite the backlash, the State House maintained that the President’s itinerary is focused on vital global discussions. President Tinubu departed Lagos on Sunday for an end-of-year break in Europe, which will transition into an official visit to the United Arab Emirates.

Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, explained that the President is traveling to participate in the 2026 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week Summit. The invitation was extended by UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

According to Onanuga, the event serves as a critical platform for government and business leaders to address climate action and economic reforms. The 2026 summit is scheduled to be held under the theme, **‘The Nexus of Next: All Systems Go’**, with a primary focus on connecting “innovation, finance and people to drive sustainable growth.”

The contrast between the President’s participation in a sustainability summit and the immediate security threats at home remains the focal point of the ADC’s grievance. Abdullahi suggested that the lack of responsiveness from the Commander-in-Chief during a time of “national distress” undermines public confidence in the administration’s ability to manage the country’s safety architecture.

While the President is expected to return to the continent in early January for the summit, the political fallout from his departure during a week of military and terrorist activity continues to grow.

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