The African Democratic Congress, a registered opposition political party in Nigeria, has sharply criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nigeria’s current Head of State and Government, over his decision to embark on a trip to Europe at a time when the country is facing renewed security concerns.
The criticism was voiced by the spokesperson of the African Democratic Congress, Bolaji Abdullahi, a Nigerian politician and former Minister of Youth and Sports Development, who described the President’s travel as insensitive and deeply troubling given the prevailing national situation.
Okay News reports that Abdullahi made his position known in a public statement titled “PBAT’s Lack Of Care Scary”, which he shared on his verified account on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Sunday, December 28, 2025.
The reaction followed reports that President Tinubu had departed Nigeria for Europe ahead of his planned participation in the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Summit, a high-level global gathering focused on climate action, economic reforms, and sustainable development. The summit is scheduled to take place in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, a Middle Eastern nation located on the Arabian Peninsula.
While acknowledging the international importance of the summit, Abdullahi argued that the timing of the President’s foreign trip was inappropriate, especially as Nigeria continues to grapple with rising insecurity, including a deadly bomb blast in Zamfara State, a northwestern region of the country that has experienced repeated violent attacks in recent years.
He also referenced heightened public anxiety following reports of a United States military strike on Nigerian soil, an incident that has raised serious questions about national sovereignty and security coordination.
According to the African Democratic Congress spokesperson, Nigerians were still waiting for words of reassurance from the President when news of his departure broke.
“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.
Abdullahi further stressed that the President’s silence on critical national security matters, combined with his physical absence from the country, raised serious concerns about leadership responsiveness during a period of national distress.
Meanwhile, official information from the Presidency confirmed that President Tinubu departed Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital located in the southwestern part of the country, on Sunday as part of his end-of-year break, ahead of his official engagement in Abu Dhabi.
In a statement released by the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to the President, Bayo Onanuga, a Nigerian journalist and government spokesperson, it was disclosed that President Tinubu is scheduled to participate in the 2026 edition of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.
According to the statement, the President’s attendance followed a formal invitation from Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Abu Dhabi.
The weeklong summit, expected to be held in early January 2026, will bring together global leaders from government, business, and civil society to advance international discussions on sustainable development.
The 2026 edition of the summit will be held under the theme “The Nexus Of Next: All Systems Go”, with a focus on connecting innovation, finance, and people to drive sustainable global growth.
