The Presidency has condemned the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for accusing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration of using the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari for political gain.
In a statement issued on Saturday by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, Mr. Sunday Dare, the Presidency described the ADC’s remarks as “shameless,” “obnoxious,” and an insult to the memory of the late leader.
“Let it be said clearly: the ADC is the one exploiting Buhari’s death for political attention, not this government,” the statement said. “From Atiku and El-Rufai’s choreographed arrival in Daura — greeted with chants seeking to make political capital from the solemnity of the moment — to this disgraceful press statement, the ADC has shown itself to be utterly shameless.”
The Presidency accused the ADC of trying to dance on Buhari’s grave to gain attention and dismissed the opposition party’s attack as nothing more than “a laughable tantrum” in a long series of baseless and opportunistic criticisms. It also said the party was attempting to reinvent itself through hollow outrage.
“This is not the first time the ADC — in its pitiful, stuttering attempts at reinvention — has embarrassed itself with hollow, attention-seeking criticisms. A party still grappling with an identity crisis presumes lecturing the President of the Federal Republic on governance, decorum, and public accountability. How utterly ridiculous,” the statement read.
Defending President Tinubu’s conduct during the mourning period, the statement emphasized that the late Buhari was honoured with dignity, befitting his status as a former head of state. It pointed out that the funeral proceedings were followed by millions of Nigerians across various platforms, and attended by world leaders, while accusing ADC figures of behaving opportunistically at the event.
“The burial of former President Buhari was conducted with the complete honour befitting a leader of his stature. That is why world leaders showed up, millions of Nigerians tuned in on television and across social media, and even ADC promoters were falling over themselves in Daura, prancing about the Buhari family compound like eager real estate agents scouting new territory,” the statement noted.
The Presidency highlighted the achievements of Tinubu’s administration as proof of serious governance. It pointed to the stabilisation of the naira, improvement in oil production, and a sixty percent increase in monthly FAAC allocations to states as clear indicators of economic recovery. The restoration of electricity to previously neglected communities was also cited as evidence of progress.
Additionally, the government mentioned ongoing infrastructure projects such as the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, the Ogbia-Nembe Road, and the Sokoto-Badagry Road. It said that over 400,000 Nigerian students have already benefited from the new student loan scheme under the NELFUND initiative. The creation of regional development commissions and the recent rollout of Nigeria’s first-ever Consumer Credit Scheme were also included among the administration’s accomplishments.
“These are not press statements. These are results. Tangible, measurable, and ongoing. That is leadership,” Dare stated.
The statement described the ADC as a “political contraption” plagued by internal crises and legal battles, noting that its only route to public relevance appears to be the issuing of “baseless attacks.”
“Let it be said without equivocation: Nigerians are not fooled. No press statement — however venomous — can erase the facts of progress. President Tinubu honoured Buhari with dignity in death and continues to honour his legacy through hard work, not hollow words,” Dare declared.
He concluded by urging Nigerians to disregard what he described as “political noise” from “an outfit gasping for attention,” reaffirming that President Tinubu remains focused on delivering the Renewed Hope Agenda.
