By George Mgbeleke0

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has reacted to the US President, Donald Trump’s purported letter to President Bola Tinubu, saying that the claimed endorsement by the American President will not save Tinubu from electoral defeat, and that celebrating a diplomatic communication from the President of another country only betrays the President’s “desperation for any form of validation.”

In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC, Nigeria’s main opposition party, said the letter does not reflect the country’s worsening insecurity and ignores the painful reality that hundreds of women and children are still being held captive in Borno and Kaiama in Kwara State, while several communities in Benue and other parts of the country continue to live under constant fear.

The full statement read:

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has noted the Presidency’s attempt to present President Donald Trump’s letter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as though it were a referendum on the state of the nation. It is not. While we hold the office and person of the President of the United States in high esteem, it is important to note that diplomatic correspondence between heads of state is a normal feature of international relations. Countries cooperate, leaders exchange views, and letters are exchanged.

What is apparent, however, is this administration’s desperation to seize upon any gesture of international recognition as proof of success at home. A letter from a foreign president, however well-intentioned, cannot substitute for the verdict of the Nigerian people. The true measure of any government is not what is written about it abroad, but what its citizens experience every day.

That is why the celebration surrounding this letter is difficult to understand. For the millions of Nigerians still living with the consequences of this government’s failures, President Trump’s communication changes nothing. It did not say that insecurity has been overcome or that Nigerians can once again travel freely, farm safely, and sleep without fear.

Indeed, it is telling that even as the Presidency chose to publicise President Trump’s letter, the United States Department of State’s travel advisory on Nigeria remained unchanged. While the Presidency celebrated what it regards as an endorsement from the White House, the official U.S. government advisory continued to place parts of Nigeria under Level 3 and Level 4 travel warnings, urging American citizens to reconsider travel because of crime, terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, and other security concerns.

We therefore wonder how correspondence from a government that designates several Nigerian states as “Do Not Travel” areas can be regarded as an endorsement. That advisory alone is a reminder that, whatever diplomatic courtesies may be exchanged between presidents, the international assessment of Nigeria’s security challenges remains far removed from the picture the Presidency is eager to paint.

The daily reality of Nigerians is shaped not by diplomatic correspondence, but by the guarantee that they can go about their lives without falling victim to violent crime or terrorism. On these defining issues, no letter offers relief, and no foreign commendation can replace the real protection of citizens.

For all intents and purposes, President Trump’s letter is simply communication between one president and another. It does not amount to an endorsement of this government’s overall performance, nor does it absolve the administration of its responsibility to confront the challenges that continue to weigh heavily on more than 200 million Nigerians.

The Tinubu administration would therefore do well to devote less energy to celebrating letters of courtesy from abroad and more to delivering measurable results at home.

Ultimately, Nigerians will not judge this government by the letters it receives from foreign capitals. They will judge it by whether it improved the lives of the people it was elected to serve.

By David Owei,Abuja

Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State, has urged the new leadership of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) to emulate the enviable qualities of late Major Isaac Adaka Boro in the struggle for a better Ijaw ethnic nationality.

Governor Diri made the call during the formal inauguration ceremony of the 10th National Executive Council (NEC) of the IYC at the Ijaw House in Yenagoa on Wednesday.

Represented at the well-attended event by his Deputy, Dr. Peter Akpe, the Bayelsa helmsman charged the newly sworn-in Dr. Doubra Okotete-led IYC leadership to lead the apex Ijaw youth body responsibly in the best interest of the Ijaw nation and strengthen its unity.

According to him, the IYC is not just an advocacy organization, but also the custodian of the hopes of millions of young Ijaw people at home and in the Diaspora.’

He therefore called on the youth body to restore a strong voice for the Ijaw nation by making its advocacy strident, firm and constructive.

Governor Diri, who pointed out that the issue of environmental justice should be one of the key focal areas of advocacy for the new NEC of the IYC, however charged them to leverage on the recommendations of the Bayelsa State Oil and Environment Commission.

While admonishing the IYC to be always guided by dialogue and mutual respect in their engagements with government, industry and the traditional institution, the Governor assured them of government’s readiness to support them in the struggle for a united and prosperous Ijaw nation.

His words: ” The Ijaw nation needs progress, and if we are talking about progress, it can only be achieved under an atmosphere of peace, and there could be no peace without sacrifice.

“Now the charge of His Excellency to the new IYC President and his executive is to lead IYC responsibly. The IYC is more than an advocacy body; it is the custodian of the hopes of millions of young Ijaw people at home and in the Diaspora.

“Major Isaac Adaka Boro was only 28 years when he took a deciding stand for our people, and his courage was marked by clarity of purpose and duty. Let your leadership draw from the qualities of our great patriot Major Isaac Adaka Boro.

” Let your advocacy be firm, principled and constructive. Let your engagement with government, industry and our traditional institution be guided by dialogue and mutual respect.

“Our purpose is to restore one strong and united voice for the Ijaw nation. There is a further responsibility before you. The IYC must also be forceful on the front of environmental justice. As our youth arm, your advocacy on environmental justice must focus on the content of the recommendations of the Bayelsa State Oil and Gas Environment Commission.

“His Excellency Senator Douye Diri, and the Government of Bayelsa State will continue to give you a listening ear and open door for fruitful partnership.”

Other notable personalities who spoke at event including Chief MacDonald Igbadiwei and Chief Kestin Pondi acknowledged the contributions of the Ijaw Youth Council, stressing that Ijaw nation would not be where it is today in terms of recognition within the Nigerian Federation without the agitations of IYC.

Chief Igbadiwe attributed the institutionalization of the Amnesty Programme, the 13 percent derivation as well as the establishment of the Niger Delta Development Commission by the federal government to sustained agitations of the IYC and urged the new leadership to remain steadfastly focused on its goals.

The Chairman of the occasion, Hon Julius Pondi , Member representing Burutu Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives , and represented By chief Keston Pondi paid glowing tribute to the founding fathers of the IYC for their thoughtfulness in forming the youth organization to advance the cause of the Ijaw nation.

Chief Pondi, noted that the IYC had succeeded in repositioning the Ijaw ethnic nationality and called on its present leadership to continue to draw inspiration from the legacies of late Ijaw freedom fighter, Major Isaac Adaka Boro.

He said: “The formation of the IYC has appropriately placed the significance of our ethnic nationality in prosper perspective in all national dialogue and discourse.

“As we continue in our emancipatory journey in the Nigerian state, let us continue to draw inspiration from the legendary Isaac Boro.”

In his acceptance speech, the President of the IYC, Dr. Doubra Okotete, thanked the leaders and critical stakeholders of the Ijaw nation for their individual and collective sacrifices which ensured the peaceful transition of leadership in the IYC.

Dr. Okotete assured that the 10th NEC of the IYC would not let the Ijaw nation down, and promised to hold all relevant private and public institutions accountable for the environmental pollution and marginalisation of the Ijaw nation.

He called for legislative action for the amendment of the Petroleum Industry Act with a view to increasing the allocation to host communities from 3 to 30 percent and announced the constitution of a committee to embark on a fact-finding mission to Ondo State over alleged deprivations and injustice meted against Ijaw communities.

Earlier in his valedictory address, the outgone IYC President, Mr. Jonathan Lokpobiri Snr, highlighted some of the achievements of the 9th executive, including the successful review of the IYC constitution, placement of several Ijaw youths on scholarship in collaboration with the Amnesty Office and the NDDC, as well as the ongoing construction of the ultramodern IYC Secretariat in Yenagoa.

Goodwill messages were also delivered by Elder T.K. Ogoriba, Dr. Kingsley KuKu, the pioneer President of IYC, Dr. Felix Tuodolor, the pioneer president of the IYC, the Chairman, Bayelsa State Traditional Rulers Council, King Bubaraye Dakolo; the Amayanabo Elem-Kalabari, King Mujahid Asari Dokubo, and Miss World Nigeria, Miss Tamunosoye Karibi-George.

By George Mgbeleke
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) expresses profound alarm and unequivocally condemns the declaration credited to the Chairman of the South-East Governors’ Forum and Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma, that the governors of the five South-East states have collectively resolved to work for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 Presidential election.
This declaration raises grave constitutional, democratic and moral concerns. It conveys the dangerous impression that the votes of millions of South-East citizens have already been negotiated or politically appropriated by a handful of elected officials. Nothing could be more offensive to constitutional democracy.
Let it be stated without ambiguity: South-East governors are not the owners of the people’s mandate. They are temporary custodians of public office and possess no constitutional authority to determine how the electorate will vote in 2027. The sovereignty of the Nigerian people is guaranteed by the Constitution, not by the resolutions of governors’ forums or partisan political meetings.
The South-East is home to one of the most politically conscious and independent-minded populations in Africa. Ndigbo have historically demonstrated that they cannot be intimidated, coerced or politically conscripted into supporting any candidate against their convictions. Their votes are earned through persuasion, performance and credibility—not through political proclamations issued from Government Houses.
HURIWA is therefore deeply concerned that statements suggesting that an entire geopolitical zone has already been politically delivered to a particular presidential candidate months before campaigns officially commence could undermine public confidence in the electoral process. Such declarations risk creating the perception that the outcome of the election is being politically choreographed instead of being freely determined by the electorate.
For this reason, HURIWA calls on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to urgently reassure Nigerians that the 2027 general election will remain free, fair, transparent and credible. The Commission must publicly reaffirm that no governor, minister, political party or government institution can influence the independence of Nigeria’s electoral process.
INEC owes Nigerians a constitutional duty to protect the sanctity of the ballot. Every eligible citizen must have the confidence that his or her vote will count exactly as cast, without manipulation, intimidation or institutional interference. The credibility of the Commission will be measured not merely by its assurances but by its preparedness, neutrality and strict compliance with the Constitution and the Electoral Act.
HURIWA further announces that it will formally petition the administration of United States President Donald Trump, alongside relevant international democratic institutions and election observation organisations, to draw attention to developments that could undermine public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic process. The purpose of the petition is to encourage heightened international attention to the conduct of the 2027 elections and to reinforce the global expectation that the will of Nigerian voters must prevail.
Democracy cannot survive where political office holders begin to speak as though they possess the electoral mandates of millions of citizens. Such a mindset contradicts the letter and spirit of constitutional governance and weakens public trust in democratic institutions.
HURIWA therefore urges all political leaders to exercise restraint, respect the intelligence of the electorate and allow Nigerians to determine the nation’s political future through the ballot box without intimidation, coercion, undue influence or any attempt to create the impression that the outcome of the election has already been predetermined.
The association reiterates that the ballot belongs to the people—not to governors, political parties or governments. The only acceptable path to political power in a constitutional democracy is through the freely expressed will of the electorate.
Nigeria’s democracy must be defended. The constitutional right of every Nigerian to vote according to conscience must remain sacred and inviolable.