The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has sharply criticized the administration of President Bola Tinubu following Nigeria’s exclusion from high-level trade discussions between the United States and five African nations, scheduled to take place at the White House this week.
In a statement issued Tuesday, the ADC described Nigeria’s omission as a “damning international indictment” of the government’s handling of the economy and foreign policy.
Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party’s Interim National Publicity Secretary, expressed dismay that Nigeria Africa’s largest economy and most populous country was left out while smaller nations such as Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, and Senegal received invitations.
“Despite Nigeria’s economic scale, vibrant consumer base, and influential diaspora, the U.S. chose to engage countries with a combined GDP that falls short of ours,” Abdullahi stated.
The United States justified its selection based on the invited countries’ “ability and willingness to help themselves” a rationale the ADC said highlights the Tinubu administration’s failures.
“In simple terms, Nigeria is no longer regarded as a serious global player under President Tinubu,” Abdullahi added.
The ADC further warned that Nigeria’s global stature is diminishing, citing growing diplomatic setbacks. These include threats of trade restrictions from former US President Donald Trump targeting BRICS countries, which include Nigeria, as well as the country’s eroding leadership role within ECOWAS.
“It would have been unthinkable, not long ago, for a major US-Africa trade summit to exclude Nigeria. That it has happened now speaks volumes about our declining relevance,” the statement read.
The party also took aim at President Tinubu’s current visit to St. Lucia, describing it as poorly timed and indicative of misplaced priorities.
Drawing on Nigeria’s legacy of leadership on the continent and the global recognition of figures like WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the ADC lamented what it called the Tinubu administration’s departure from merit-based governance.
“This is the price of placing politics above competence, and spin above substance. Nigeria is too important to be left out,” Abdullahi concluded.
The US-Africa business summit, which begins Wednesday, is intended to strengthen commercial ties between American companies and selected African partners.
The ADC views Nigeria’s exclusion as a stark warning about the country’s diminishing diplomatic and economic influence on the global stage.
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