The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has blasted Vice President Kashim Shettima for concentrating on the plight of Palestinians during his address to the United Nations. The party recently said that it failed to tackle the worsening insecurity and economic hardship in Nigeria.
In a press statement released on Thursday, Jackie Wayas, the ADC Deputy National Publicity Secretary, described Shettima’s remarks as a missed opportunity to secure global support to address the crises ravaging the nation.
According to her, Nigeria is clearly at a breaking point, with insecurity consistently forcing farmers to abandon their fields, food production collapsing in various states, and the cost of essential goods rising every day.
“Just days ago, Nigerians watched in shock as heavily armed bandits, with ammunition draped around their necks, brazenly held a press conference in Katsina State. This is not just an embarrassment, it is a national shame and an indictment of any government that claims to have control over its territory,” she said.
The ADC spokesperson further accused the government of neglecting urgent domestic problems while seeking relevance on the international stage.
Wayas concluded by warning that hunger cannot continue to be a daily reality for millions of innocent Nigerians.
“Instead of rallying global partners to help Nigeria overcome its grave internal crises, this government chose to focus on another nation’s struggles. Nigerians deserve leadership that puts their security, dignity, and wellbeing first.
We remind the Presidency that charity begins at home. Nigerians are not collateral damage in a government searching for relevance on the international stage. Until our leaders show the courage to confront insecurity, no amount of lofty rhetoric abroad can hide the painful reality at home.
While we share in the Palestinian people’s legitimate quest for dignity, we hope that when Palestine addresses the world, it will also speak about the killings, kidnappings, hunger, and suffering in Nigeria. That would be the true spirit of shared humanity and solidarity.
The ADC calls for urgent and concrete action, not speeches, to protect farmers, stabilise food prices, and crush the menace of banditry once and for all,” she added.
