Trump's letter to Tinubu not an endorsement, says Timi Frank

A former Nigerian political official has cautioned against interpreting a letter from former U.S. President Donald Trump to Nigerian President Bola Tinubu as an endorsement of the current administration. Timi Frank, a former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, described the correspondence as a standard diplomatic communication.

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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

The Nigerian Presidency had previously announced that Trump sent a personal letter commending Tinubu's "decisive leadership." The statement, attributed to Special Adviser Bayo Onanuga, also noted Trump's mention of U.S. Special Operations Forces training Nigerian military personnel in counter-terrorism efforts.

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It did not say the Trump administration is backing President Tinubu or supporting him for any election in Nigeria.

Frank asserted that such exchanges, particularly concerning security cooperation, are common in diplomatic relations and should not be misconstrued as political backing. "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," Frank stated.

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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 emphasized that the letter did not signify support for Tinubu's policies or electoral prospects. Frank also pointed out that the letter's delayed publication, reportedly dated July 6 but released weeks later, warrants transparency. He urged the Tinubu administration to release the letter publicly, allowing Nigerians to assess its contents within the proper diplomatic framework. Frank recalled past high-level engagements, like Buhari's meeting with Trump, as significant diplomatic milestones, stressing that U.S. support for democracy and rule of law in Nigeria should not be mistaken for endorsement of any specific administration.

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credibility and integrity “cannot be conferred by a letter or diplomatic exchange” but should be earned through “transparent leadership, accountability, respect for democratic institutions and faithful service to the people.”