The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has condemned the bomb blasts that struck Maiduguri, Borno State, on Monday and accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of prioritising politics over the lives of Nigerians.

About 23 people were reported dead, and hundreds others injured, in the bomb blast in Maiduguri on Monday night.

The party, therefore, called on the President to immediately return to Nigeria and address the growing insecurity, emphasising that his decision to leave the country during such a critical and mourning period shows his insensitivity and laxity.

The National Publicity Secretary of ADC, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, in a statement on Tuesday, conveyed the party’s sympathy for the victims of the attacks and their families.

The ADC also expressed concerns about what it described as a lack of leadership focus during a crucial period, noting that President Bola Tinubu is currently abroad while senior officials responsible for national security are reportedly involved in partisan political activities.

According to the ADC, protecting lives and property must take precedence over political distractions and diplomatic ceremonies. It therefore urged President Tinubu to urgently return to the country and prioritise his primary duty of safeguarding lives.

The statement said: “The African Democratic Congress (ADC) strongly condemns the bomb blasts that have shaken Maiduguri, Borno State, leaving innocent Nigerians dead and many others injured.

“Our hearts go out to the victims, their families, and the people of Maiduguri, a city that has endured more than its fair share of pain over the years. Terrorism anywhere in Nigeria is an attack on all Nigerians. At moments like this, the country must stand together with the people who have been affected.

“We commend the courage of first responders and security personnel who are working to assist the injured and restore calm. But this tragic incident also raises the persistent questions about the state of security in our country.

Maiduguri, which in recent years had begun to experience a measure of stability after the darkest days of the insurgency, should not be returning to a situation where coordinated bomb attacks once again threaten the safety of ordinary citizens going about their daily lives.

“Moments like this demand the full and undivided attention of the nation’s leadership. It is therefore troubling that the President is currently outside the country at a time when such a serious attack on national security occurred.”

The statement continued,” At a time when Nigerian soldiers and civilians are being wilfully killed by terrorists, those charged with protecting the country are focused on politics of self-succession.

“The National Security Adviser is going after opposition figures and calling bandits his ‘brothers’, while the Minister of Defence is on television planning the APC national convention. This is not leadership. It is a dangerous distraction, and it is costing lives.

“In case this government has forgotten, those being killed by terrorists are not just numbers. Those soldiers being mowed down by bandits are people’s children, husbands, fathers and families. In any serious country, a devastating security breach would command the full attention of the government.

“Leaders would return home, address the nation, and take responsibility. Instead, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is abroad, exchanging pleasantries with the King and Queen of England, while Nigerians mourn and soldiers are being buried.

Not a word has been spared for the victims or the brave soldiers who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in the service of Nigeria. The oath of office is clear, the primary duty of government is the protection of lives, and that duty is certainly not being met by this APC government.”

The ADC said that the protection of lives and property is the most basic responsibility of any government and must at all times take centre stage.

“It cannot be treated as secondary to political distractions or competing priorities. The ADC therefore calls on President Tinubu to return immediately to the country and show, for once, that he cares about something else other than his politics.

We also think it is about time that government started to take full responsibility for every life lost that could have been protected by paying compensation to the families of victims, whether military or civilians.

“Although no amount of money can fully compensate for a lost life, by penalising itself this way, the government would have started to accept responsibility.

It is no longer enough for the government to merely issue condolences and condemnations. It is its first job to protect lives. And Nigeria cannot continue on a path where the loss of lives becomes routine.

“We are only in the third month of the year, and already thousands of Nigerians have been killed in violent attacks across the country, while the President continues to make merry, enjoying the sweetness of the only thing he truly cares about: politics. This is unacceptable, as it is condemnable.”