By SUNTV Global Channel
January 7, 2026 | News
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has faulted the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what it described as Nigeria’s troubling silence over the unfolding political crisis in Venezuela, warning that the country is rapidly losing its relevance, influence, and moral authority on the global stage.
The opposition party said Nigeria’s absence from international conversations surrounding developments in Venezuela represents a sharp break from its historic role as Africa’s diplomatic compass and a leading voice within the West African sub-region.
Speaking on Channels Television on Tuesday, the ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, described Nigeria’s muted posture as embarrassing and symptomatic of a broader decline in the nation’s foreign policy standing.
According to Abdullahi, the events in Venezuela are not merely regional issues but carry far-reaching implications for global politics and international order.
“What happened last Saturday is a defining moment in international politics, one that has serious implications for the global world order, perhaps the most significant since the Second World War,” he said.
“Nigeria Is Nowhere to Be Found”
Abdullahi lamented that despite Nigeria’s size, population, and historical influence, the country has failed to articulate any position on the crisis, a situation he said reflects poorly on the current administration.
“Let’s put politics aside,” he said. “As citizens, we feel embarrassed that all these things are happening and Nigeria has no voice in it. Objectively speaking, under this administration, Nigeria has lost its place as a leading voice on the African continent and even in West Africa.”
He contrasted the present silence with Nigeria’s past tradition of bold and principled diplomacy, recalling an era when Nigerian leaders played visible roles on the world stage.
“This is Nigeria—the Nigeria of Jaja Nwachukwu, the Nigeria of Joseph Garba—where leaders stood firmly on global platforms and took clear positions on critical international issues,” Abdullahi said.
“Taking a Position Is Not Taking Sides”
The ADC spokesman stressed that Nigeria’s failure to speak does not stem from neutrality but from a lack of political will and diplomatic confidence.
“It doesn’t matter whether Nigeria agrees with everyone else or sees things differently,” he said. “What matters is that Nigeria should be heard. But today, Nigeria is nowhere to be found. Nigeria has said nothing. If that does not embarrass you as a citizen, it embarrasses us.”
He described Nigeria’s diminishing international presence as an anomaly for a country that should ordinarily lead continental and global discourse.
“The diminution of Nigeria on the international stage is an embarrassment. It is not befitting of a country of our stature that should naturally be a leader in Africa,” Abdullahi added.
Claims of Vulnerability and Moral Weakness
Abdullahi further suggested that Nigeria’s silence may be linked to internal vulnerabilities that have weakened its moral authority to speak on international conflicts.
“By inviting foreign military involvement or external interventions into your own country for whatever reason, you make yourself vulnerable,” he said. “Perhaps that vulnerability is why this government cannot speak.”
He concluded by accusing the Tinubu administration of lacking the self-confidence and moral courage required to engage meaningfully in global affairs.
“The only explanation for this embarrassing silence is that our government does not have the self-confidence to speak. It senses its own vulnerability and therefore lacks the moral courage,” Abdullahi stated.
Growing Global Outrage
The ADC’s comments come amid rising international outrage following reports that the United States, under former President Donald Trump, invaded Venezuela, capturing President Nicolás Maduro and his wife—an action that has sparked intense global debate and condemnation in several quarters.
Despite Nigeria’s long-standing advocacy for sovereignty, non-interference, and diplomatic engagement, the Federal Government has yet to issue any official statement on the crisis as of the time of filing this report.
