…says VP chasing foreign sympathy while Nigerians suffer
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has faulted Vice President Kashim Shettima’s speech at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, accusing him of glossing over the dire insecurity and hunger ravaging Nigeria while dwelling on the plight of Palestinians.
Shettima, who represented President Bola Tinubu at the global forum, focused much of his remarks on international conflicts. But the ADC said his silence on the domestic crises choking Nigerians was both disappointing and insensitive.
In a strongly worded statement on Thursday, the party’s Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Jackie Wayas, said the Vice President squandered a crucial opportunity to attract global partnerships to confront Nigeria’s worsening insecurity and economic meltdown.
“Just days ago, Nigerians watched in shock as heavily armed bandits, with ammunition hanging around their necks, brazenly held a press conference in Katsina. That scene is not only an embarrassment; it is a national disgrace. Any government that claims to be in control of its territory should bow its head in shame,” Wayas said.
The opposition party warned that hunger had become an everyday reality for millions of households as insecurity continued to drive farmers from their fields, leaving markets empty and prices soaring.
“Hunger is no longer a threat; it is a lived experience. Families are skipping meals, children are malnourished, and inflation is biting harder than ever. The Vice President had a platform to spotlight these realities and seek solutions, but he chose instead to play to the gallery abroad,” the statement added.
The ADC further stressed that global stages like the UNGA should not be used for “foreign posturing” but rather to canvass meaningful support for Nigeria’s collapsing security architecture and dwindling food supply chains.
Meanwhile, the UNGA session itself saw world leaders raise alarm over crises in their own countries. Georgian President, Mikheil Kavelashvili, revisited Russia’s 2008 invasion as he condemned the ongoing war in Ukraine, while Haiti’s transitional leader, Laurent Saint-Cyr, decried gang violence pushing his country into chaos.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, speaking via video after being denied a U.S. visa, reiterated calls for an independent Palestinian state, elections, and humanitarian access in Gaza and the West Bank.
But the ADC maintained that Nigeria’s delegation failed to put its own house in order.
“The Vice President’s refusal to highlight the insecurity and hunger crushing Nigerians is a betrayal of trust. Leaders must speak for their people, not chase applause from foreign audiences,” Wayas insisted.
