PDP Dismisses Tinubu’s Trip Cancellation as ‘Tokenism’ Amid Kebbi Schoolgirls’ Abduction

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over his decision to cancel planned official trips to South Africa and Angola, describing the move as “mere tokenism” in the face of worsening insecurity in Nigeria.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, said the cancellation, announced amid public outrage over the kidnapping of twenty-five schoolgirls in Kebbi State, amounted to a superficial act that fails to confront the country’s deepening security crisis.

Ememobong described the President’s decision as “the latest and boldest example of tokenism”, arguing that while it may appear sympathetic, it does little to alter the harsh reality of violent attacks, abductions, and fear experienced daily by Nigerians in different parts of the country.

PDP Demands Tinubu Relocate to Conflict Zones

The PDP challenged the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government to go beyond what it called symbolic gestures and demonstrate genuine leadership in addressing insecurity. Ememobong said if the Presidency disagreed with the party’s position, it should prove its seriousness by asking President Tinubu to temporarily relocate to Kebbi State and other conflict-prone areas in Northern Nigeria.

According to the statement, such a move would send a strong signal to security agencies and encourage them to act with greater urgency and decisiveness in tackling insurgents, bandits, and other criminal elements. The PDP spokesman argued that a hands-on presence by the Commander-in-Chief in affected areas would also serve to boost the morale of troops on the frontline, who continue to confront life-threatening conditions in the course of their duties.

“As President and Commander in Chief, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu must not recline in the comfort of the Presidential Villa at a time when 25 schoolgirls have been abducted and their whereabouts remain unknown,” Ememobong said, insisting that Nigerians expect more concrete action than symbolic cancellations of foreign engagements.

Insecurity in Kebbi, Kwara Reflects ‘Daily Reality of Fear’

The PDP further linked the abduction of schoolgirls in Kebbi State and reported attacks in parts of Kwara State to what it termed the “daily reality of fear” facing Nigerians under the current administration. The party accused the government of responding to security breaches with “outright denials, rationalised explanations, empty assurances, and other superficial gestures”, rather than a coordinated and sustained security strategy.

According to the statement, the recent attacks underscore the vulnerability of communities and the persistence of criminal networks despite repeated promises by the government to restore peace and stability. The PDP argued that citizens are increasingly losing confidence in official assurances, as incidents of kidnapping, banditry, and communal violence continue to dominate headlines and disrupt livelihoods.

The PDP maintained that cancelling official trips cannot be a substitute for comprehensive security reforms, improved intelligence gathering, better welfare for security personnel, and visible leadership presence in areas under threat. It urged the Federal Government to match words with action by prioritising the rescue of abducted victims, strengthening coordination among security agencies, and providing regular, transparent briefings to reassure the public.