Timi Frank says Donald Trump’s letter to President Tinubu is not a political endorsement and challenges the Presidency over its interpretation of the message
Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timi Frank, has dismissed claims that a reported letter from United States President Donald Trump represents a political endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu or his administration.
Frank argued that the correspondence, as described by the Nigerian government, should instead be viewed as part of normal diplomatic engagement between Nigeria and the United States, particularly in the area of security cooperation.
The former APC spokesman made the position known in a statement issued in Abuja, where he also challenged the Presidency to release the complete document to the public.
According to Frank, the reported letter should be subjected to public scrutiny, particularly because of the significance attached to it by the Federal Government.
He questioned whether the document contains the official markings and authentication expected of correspondence originating from the office of the American President.
“The letter is not from the White House. If it doesn’t have the White House seal and the signature of the President of the United States, it appears dubious at best,” Frank said.
He maintained that even if the communication is eventually confirmed to be genuine, its contents, based on what has been made public, do not amount to an endorsement of Tinubu’s administration.
Frank said the reported message only acknowledged Nigeria’s collaboration with Washington in tackling insecurity and should not be stretched into an expression of political support for the Nigerian President.
He argued that there was no indication in the reported correspondence that Trump had endorsed Tinubu’s economic policies, leadership style or political ambitions ahead of future elections.
“The letter only commended Nigeria for partnering with the United States in addressing insecurity. That is the only reason President Trump may have written it. It was not an endorsement of President Tinubu’s leadership, his economic policies or his administration.
“It did not say the Trump administration is backing President Tinubu or supporting him for any election in Nigeria. The Presidency is only trying to change the narrative by presenting it as something more than it is,” he stated.
Frank, who is also identified as the United Liberation Movement for West Papua, ULMWP, Ambassador to East Africa and the Middle East, questioned the timing of the public discussion surrounding the alleged letter.
He pointed out that the document was reportedly dated July 6 but was not immediately presented to Nigerians. In his view, the delay raises questions about the circumstances surrounding its release and the importance now being attached to it.
The former APC official argued that if the letter represented a significant political endorsement from the American President, it would have been expected to generate immediate public attention rather than surfacing later.
He further described diplomatic correspondence between governments as a normal feature of international relations, particularly when countries cooperate on matters such as counter-terrorism, intelligence sharing and national security.
Frank therefore cautioned Nigerians against interpreting Trump’s reported recognition of Nigeria’s security partnership with the United States as evidence of Washington’s political backing for the Tinubu administration.
He said the Federal Government’s decision to highlight the letter could instead be an attempt to project greater international acceptance and legitimacy.
“By celebrating this ‘letter’, the government is showing that it is looking for legitimacy and credibility before the international community. If it had confidence in its credibility, it would not make so much of an ordinary diplomatic letter,” he said.
The former APC spokesman also drew attention to the diplomatic relationship between Trump and former President Muhammadu Buhari during Trump’s first term as US President.
Frank recalled that Buhari had visited the White House during that period and appeared alongside Trump before the international media, describing that type of engagement as more significant than a reported letter.
“President Trump invited Buhari when he was President. They stood together and addressed the world. If Tinubu believes President Trump is impressed with his administration, then he should visit Trump and stand side by side with him so the world can hear directly what he has achieved,” Frank stated.
His comments also extended to reports concerning the Nigerian government’s alleged expenditure on lobbying activities in the United States.
Frank questioned reports that millions of dollars had been spent on lobbyists to improve the image of the Nigerian government and argued that a government with strong international credibility should not need to rely excessively on public relations efforts to gain acceptance abroad.
He also referenced America’s long-standing emphasis on democratic principles, the rule of law, electoral integrity and human rights.
According to him, Washington’s willingness to cooperate with Nigeria on security matters should not automatically be interpreted as an endorsement of every action or policy of the Nigerian government.
“The United States will never support a government that is corrupt, cannot protect the lives of its citizens or is tyrannical. America will always stand for democracy, election integrity and the protection of lives. Nigerians should not be deceived by the celebration of this ‘letter’,” he said.
Frank added that America’s cooperation with Nigeria should be understood within the broader context of efforts to strengthen security and democratic institutions.
“The United States remains committed to supporting efforts to address insecurity, protect election integrity and promote democratic values in Nigeria. That should not be mistaken for an endorsement of the Tinubu administration,” he added.
The former APC national publicity secretary further alleged that the publicity surrounding the reported Trump correspondence could be diverting attention from other issues generating public debate.
He specifically referred to ongoing discussions concerning the release and circulation of court documents connected to allegations about President Tinubu’s past drug-related matters.
However, these remain allegations and claims that have been the subject of public and political debate.
Frank insisted that such matters should not be overshadowed by what he considers an attempt to attach political significance to a routine diplomatic communication.
He consequently called on the Presidency to publish the full document and allow Nigerians to independently assess its contents and authenticity.
For Frank, the central issue is not whether Nigeria maintains a security partnership with the United States, but whether such cooperation is being deliberately presented as something beyond its actual diplomatic meaning.
He concluded that a government’s credibility, both at home and abroad, cannot be established simply through letters, diplomatic exchanges or publicity campaigns.
“Ultimately, credibility and integrity cannot be conferred by a letter, a diplomatic exchange or a public relations campaign. They are earned through transparent leadership, accountability, respect for democratic institutions and faithful service to the people,” Frank said.
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