The spokesperson for the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Bolaji Abdullahi, has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s decision to travel to Europe amid rising security concerns in the country, describing the move as insensitive and alarming.

Abdullahi expressed the position in a statement titled ‘PBAT’s lack of care scary’, and posted on his official X account on Sunday.

His reaction followed reports that the President had departed Nigeria for Europe ahead of his participation in the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Summit, where he is expected to engage global leaders on climate action, economic reforms and sustainable development.

However, Abdullahi argued that the President’s foreign trip came at a troubling moment, as the nation grapples with renewed insecurity, including a deadly bomb blast in Zamfara State and heightened public anxiety following the United States’ military strike on Nigerian soil.

According to him, Nigerians were still waiting for reassurance from the President when news of his travel 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.

The ADC spokesperson stressed that the President’s silence on critical national security issues, coupled with his absence from the country, raised serious concerns about leadership responsiveness at a time of national distress.

Tinubu departed Lagos for Europe on Sunday, as part of his end-of-year break, ahead of his official visit to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

A statement by the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Sunday, noted that the President is scheduled to participate in the 2026 edition of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week Summit, following an invitation from the President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

The summit is expected to be held in early January.

Onanuga noted that the weeklong event would bring together leaders from government, business and civil society to advance global conversations on sustainable development.

The 2026 summit will be held under the theme, ‘The Nexus of Next: All Systems Go’, and will focus on connecting innovation, finance and people to drive sustainable growth. (The PUNCH)

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