Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
The Allied People’s Movement (APM) has dismissed claims that United States President Donald Trump praised President Bola Tinubu for Nigeria’s fight against terrorism.
In a statement issued yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Abubakar Yusuf, the party accused the Presidency of attempting to mislead Nigerians by suggesting that Trump had commended the Tinubu administration’s counterterrorism efforts.
According to the APM, the Presidency claimed that the US President, in a letter to Tinubu, applauded Nigeria’s progress in tackling terrorism.
However, the opposition party maintained that Trump’s correspondence was merely a response to a letter sent by the Nigerian President and did not contain any specific commendation of Nigeria’s anti-terror campaign.
It further accused the Presidency of distorting both the context and content of the letter to create a false impression.
“The APM’s careful reading of President Trump’s letter shows that the US leader only commended President Tinubu for his resolve and commitment to tackling terrorism not for any specific action or achievement against terrorists.
President Trump, in the letter dated July 6, wrote: “Thank you for your thoughtful letter. Your kind words mean a great deal to me and I appreciate your decisive leadership on behalf of the Nigerian people.
“I applaud your resolve to tackle the issues plaguing your nation, especially the violence affecting Christian communities.”
The APM challenges the Presidency to point to the specific portion of the letter where President Trump commended President Tinubu for concrete results or decisive actions against terrorism.
“The letter speaks of resolve and commitment; it did not celebrate any particular achievement in the war against terrorists.
“The distinction is clear: President Trump acknowledged Tinubu’s resolve he did not endorse his performance. A commitment is not an achievement.
After years of promises, Nigerians are still waiting for decisive action and tangible results from President Tinubu.
“The APM rejects these tactics of propaganda and political rhetoric designed to give President Trump and other world leaders the false impression that Nigeria’s security challenges are under control,” the opposition party said.
It added that “since December 2025, when President Trump called for decisive action against terrorism in Nigeria, President Tinubu has written letters, issued statements, made promises and repeatedly pledged to confront insecurity.
“Yet, his administration has failed to take decisive action even as terrorists continue to ravage our nation, killing, maiming and kidnapping innocent citizens.
“Our party, therefore, counsels President Tinubu and the APC-led Federal Government to stop hiding behind statements of commitment and start delivering concrete results.
“If President Tinubu wants commendations from President Trump, he should back his commitment to the US President with concrete and decisive action against terrorism.
“The APM finds it unacceptable that the Tinubu Presidency chooses to play politics with the lives of Nigerians and seek international endorsements while the country remains trapped in a worsening security crisis
