Timi Frank Demands Immediate Cancellation of President Tinubu's UK Trip Following Deadly Maiduguri Bombings
Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Comrade Timi Frank, has issued a scathing condemnation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's scheduled state visit to the United Kingdom, labeling it as "callous, indefensible and morally bankrupt" in the aftermath of devastating bombings in Maiduguri.
Coordinated Attacks Leave Trail of Death and Destruction
In a detailed statement released on Tuesday, Frank described Monday evening's coordinated explosions near the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, the main market, and the post office as "a tragic, blood-soaked verdict on a failing security architecture." Official figures confirm that at least 23 Nigerians were killed and over 100 injured in attacks attributed to suspected suicide bombers.
"This is not just another attack—it is a national emergency," Frank declared emphatically. "Our people are being slaughtered, our soldiers are under relentless assault, yet the President is preparing for a ceremonial outing in the UK. That is not leadership; it is abdication of responsibility."
Frank's Demands and Warnings
The former APC official demanded the immediate cancellation of the UK trip, warning that leaving Nigeria at such a critical moment would amount to "a cruel abandonment of grieving citizens." He stated unequivocally: "No responsible leader boards a plane to wine, dine and dance when his country is burying its dead. A President with empathy goes to Maiduguri, not London."
Frank extended his criticism to the British government, accusing it of "staggering hypocrisy and moral blindness" for extending the invitation during Nigeria's security crisis. "The UK is aware of Nigeria's escalating insecurity, mass unemployment, crippling electricity crisis, and the weakening of democratic institutions. Yet, it rolls out the red carpet. That is complicity, not diplomacy," he asserted.
Broader Security and Governance Concerns
The political activist warned that the timing of the presidential visit sends "a dangerous and insulting signal" that Nigerian lives are expendable and governance failures can be overlooked for ceremonial photo opportunities. Frank also alleged that Nigeria's anti-terror war has been weakened by corruption and internal sabotage, claiming military resources are being diverted from critical operations.
Frank further condemned what he described as the "obscene and indefensible convoy of power" accompanying the President, which includes top officials such as Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Attorney General Lateef Fagbemi, Ministers Wale Edun, Jumoke Oduwole, Hannatu Musawa, Bosun Tijani, and retired General Christopher Musa, among others.
Call for International Reassessment
In his concluding remarks, Frank urged the international community to rethink its engagement with Nigeria, warning that uncritical support risks emboldening governance failures rather than solving the deepening crisis. His statement represents one of the most forceful public criticisms of the Tinubu administration's response to the ongoing security challenges facing the nation.
