A former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timi Frank, has dismissed claims that a recent letter from United States President Donald Trump to President Bola Tinubu amounts to an endorsement of the Nigerian leader, describing it as a routine diplomatic communication.
Frank made the remarks in a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja, a day after the Presidency released details of a letter in which Trump reportedly praised Tinubu’s leadership and reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to supporting Nigeria’s fight against terrorism.
According to the Presidency, the letter, dated July 6, 2026, commended Tinubu for what Trump described as his “decisive leadership on behalf of the Nigerian people” and highlighted ongoing security cooperation between both countries, including the deployment of US Special Operations Forces to assist in training Nigerian troops.
However, Frank argued that the correspondence should not be interpreted as political backing for Tinubu or his administration.
“The letter merely acknowledged Nigeria’s collaboration with the United States in tackling insecurity. It should not be construed as an endorsement of President Tinubu, his government or its policies,” he said.
He maintained that exchanges of this nature are common between countries with shared strategic interests, particularly in the areas of security and defence, adding that such communications do not translate into support for a country’s political leadership.
Frank also noted that the letter was reportedly dated July 6 but only became public several weeks later, saying its full release would enable Nigerians to assess its contents in the proper context.
He recalled that former President Muhammadu Buhari held bilateral talks with Trump during the latter’s first term in office, describing such high-level diplomatic engagements as a normal feature of international relations rather than expressions of political endorsement.
According to him, the United States has consistently maintained its commitment to promoting democracy, the rule of law, credible elections and human rights in Nigeria, irrespective of the administration in power.
“The United States’ support for Nigeria’s security efforts and democratic institutions should not be mistaken for support for the Tinubu administration,” Frank said.
He added that the credibility of any government is earned through transparent leadership, accountability and respect for democratic principles, not through diplomatic correspondence.
Frank urged the Federal Government to make the full contents of the letter public, saying doing so would allow Nigerians to judge its significance based on facts rather than political interpretation.
