Opposition political parties have criticised the Presidency for celebrating a reported commendation letter from United States President Donald Trump to President Bola Tinubu over Nigeria’s fight against insecurity, arguing that the development does not reflect the security realities faced by Nigerians.
The parties, in separate interviews with Saturday PUNCH, maintained that even if the correspondence exists, it should not be interpreted as an endorsement of the Tinubu administration’s overall security performance.
The criticism followed the Presidency’s announcement that Trump had written to Tinubu, commending his “decisive leadership” in tackling insecurity. It also disclosed that the United States had deployed Special Operations Forces, including Navy SEAL Team 6, to assist in training Nigerian troops for counter-terrorism operations.
The National Publicity Secretary of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), Osa Director, dismissed the Presidency’s celebration of the reported letter, insisting that Nigerians would judge the administration by the security situation on the ground rather than diplomatic commendations.
According to him, regardless of the source, external praise cannot outweigh the daily realities experienced by citizens.
He argued that insecurity remains widespread across the country and questioned the rationale behind celebrating what he described as a non-existent victory over insecurity.
The National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Yunusa Tanko, also cast doubt on the authenticity of the reported correspondence. He said the United States has the capacity to independently assess Nigeria’s security situation and expressed concern that the report may have been misrepresented.
Similarly, the National Chairman of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Major Agbo, said conflicting reports surrounding the letter had created uncertainty about both its authenticity and content.
He urged the Presidency to clarify whether such a letter was actually written and, if so, make its contents public to eliminate speculation.
On its part, the Labour Party adopted a more cautious position. Its National Publicity Secretary, Ken Asogwa, argued that Trump’s reported remarks appeared to focus specifically on counter-terrorism efforts and attacks on Christian communities rather than Nigeria’s broader security situation.
According to Asogwa, insecurity in Nigeria extends beyond terrorism, with banditry, communal violence, insurgency and attacks in different regions requiring separate attention.
The Allied People’s Movement (APM) also accused the Federal Government of exaggerating the contents of the reported correspondence, insisting that any acknowledgement by Trump related only to Tinubu’s commitment to fighting terrorism and not to measurable improvements in national security.
Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timi Frank, likewise described the reported correspondence as routine diplomatic communication, warning against interpreting it as political endorsement of the Tinubu administration.
Despite the criticisms, the Presidency has maintained that the reported letter underscores growing cooperation between Nigeria and the United States in the fight against terrorism, including ongoing American military support for Nigerian security forces.
