Less than 24 hours after the bomb blast in Borno State capital, Maiduguri killed 23 people, leaving hundreds injured, the African Democratic Congress, ADC has joined others to condemn the terrorist act, calling on President Bola Tinubu to urgently return home from his United Kingdom’s state visit.
President Tinubu had departed Nigeria for a historic two-day state visit to be hosted by King Charles III at Windsor Castle in the United Kingdom, from March 18 to March 19, 2026, marking the first of such visit by a Nigerian leader in 37 years
The statement issued by the ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi raised concerns over what it describes as a lack of leadership focus by the President at a critical moment.
The party noted that Tinubu is currently outside the country while the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu is busy witch-hunting the opposition and his Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa continues to engage in the planning of the APC’s national convention.
ADC stressed that the protection of lives and property need to be prioritised over political distractions and diplomatic ceremonies, declaring that Nigerians do not need leadership with divided attention but a serious government that can finally put an end to the escalating security situation.
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The opposition commended the courage of first responders and security personnel who are working to assist the injured and restore calm, saying that the tragic incident has continued to raise persistent questions about the state of security in the country.
It expressed condolences to the victims, their families and the people of Borno State, noting that the city has endured more than its fair share of pain over the years from the persisting insecurity situations.
Meanwhile, the Kabiru Turaki- led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has condemned the recent multiple bombings in Maiduguri that resulted in the death of 23 people and injuring more than 100 others.
The party in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong says it is another incontrovertible piece of evidence of the inability of the APC-led federal government to curb the growing insecurity in Nigeria as it stresses that despite the glaring failure, the APC-led Presidency has rather devoted more time, energy, and resources to the task of political genocide against the opposition, instead of deploying the same to combat the growing insecurity that has become the lived reality and new normal for Nigerians.
The PDP adds that the bombing is an unfortunate addition to the numerous acts of grave insecurity that have occurred under the watch of President Tinubu, which it says was the loudest campaign voice for the APC, promising to end insecurity immediately if his party is elected but sadly, 11 years later, insecurity has not only increased significantly in the Northeastern part the country; it has also spread almost uncontrollably to many other parts that were hitherto very safe and peaceful.
While it stresses that Nigeria was safer in 2015 than it is today, the Kabiru Turaki-led faction of the party sympathises with the families who have been affected by the dastardly act, and ask the Tinubu-led government to move beyond rhetorics in security matters and engage strategic stakeholders, especially community leaders, as part of a whole-of-society approach to combating insecurity.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
