By Ismaeel Aleem
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has fiercely criticised President Bola Tinubu’s pursuit of a permanent seat for Nigeria on the United Nations Security Council, labelling it a “misplaced priority” amid escalating insecurity at home.
The opposition party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, issued a statement on Sunday condemning the administration’s focus on global ambitions while failing to address rampant banditry and loss of lives across Nigeria.
Abdullahi argued that Tinubu’s push, reiterated by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York, lacks credibility given the government’s inability to ensure domestic security.
“The ADC finds it absurd that the Tinubu administration could be requesting a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council even as bandits slaughter Nigerians at home and take control of some of the nation’s territories,” the statement read.
The party questioned how a government struggling to safeguard its citizens could expect to be taken seriously in global security discussions.
Nigeria has long advocated for a permanent UN Security Council seat to represent Africa, a demand Shettima echoed at the UNGA.
However, the ADC contends that the administration’s focus on international prestige neglects its primary duty to protect lives and property.
“We wonder how a government that cannot ensure peace or security at home could demand a seat at the table where global security is negotiated,” Abdullahi stated.
