Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timi Frank, has called on the Presidency to make public the letter reportedly sent by United States President Donald Trump to President Bola Tinubu, arguing that Nigerians deserve to see its contents.
Frank maintained that the correspondence, which the Federal Government has highlighted as a notable diplomatic development, was nothing more than a routine communication acknowledging Nigeria’s cooperation with the United States on security matters.
He also questioned the authenticity of the document, insisting that a genuine communication from the US President should bear the official White House seal and President Trump’s signature.
According to him, any letter lacking those official features raises questions about its credibility.
Frank argued that, even if the letter was authentic, it should not be interpreted as an endorsement of President Tinubu, his administration or its policies.
He said the reported correspondence merely recognized Nigeria’s collaboration with the United States in addressing security challenges and should not be presented as evidence of political support from Washington.
“The letter simply acknowledges Nigeria’s partnership with the United States on security issues. It does not amount to an endorsement of President Tinubu’s leadership, economic reforms or administration,” Frank said.
He accused the Presidency of attempting to give the correspondence greater political significance than it deserved and urged the government to publish the document so Nigerians could independently assess its contents.
Alleges Attempt To Shift Public Attention
Frank further alleged that the publicity surrounding the reported letter was intended to divert public attention from discussions concerning the release of court documents linked to allegations about Tinubu’s past drug-related case.
He questioned why a letter reportedly dated July 6 only surfaced publicly several days later, arguing that if it truly represented a major diplomatic endorsement, it would have been released immediately.
Describing such exchanges as normal diplomatic communication between friendly nations, Frank stressed that cooperation on security matters should not be mistaken for political backing.
He also suggested that the government’s celebration of the reported correspondence reflected an attempt to gain international legitimacy.
According to him, an administration confident in its credibility would not portray what he described as an ordinary diplomatic letter as a major political achievement.
Drawing a comparison with former President Muhammadu Buhari’s engagement with Trump during his first term in office, Frank said Buhari’s visit to the White House represented a far more significant diplomatic milestone.
He argued that if President Tinubu believed he enjoyed President Trump’s confidence, he should pursue a direct meeting where both leaders could publicly address the international community.
Frank also questioned reports that the Federal Government had spent significant sums on lobbyists in the United States to improve Nigeria’s image abroad.
He contended that governments with strong international credibility would have little reason to invest heavily in reputation management.
He added that the United States has consistently promoted democracy, electoral integrity, the rule of law and the protection of human rights, insisting that Washington would not support any administration perceived as corrupt, repressive or unable to protect its citizens.
While acknowledging continued US support for Nigeria’s efforts to combat insecurity and strengthen democratic institutions, Frank maintained that such cooperation should not be interpreted as political endorsement of the Tinubu administration.
He reiterated his call on the Presidency to release the alleged Trump letter, saying its publication would allow Nigerians to determine whether it represented political support or was simply a routine diplomatic message focused on security cooperation.
