The Presidency has sharply criticised the African Democratic Congress (ADC) over comments it made concerning the state burial of former President Muhammadu Buhari, describing the party’s remarks as “obnoxious” and “a laughable tantrum.”
Speaking on behalf of the Presidency, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, Mr Sunday Dare, said the ADC’s statement amounted to political exploitation of a solemn national moment.
“This is not the first time the ADC, in its pitiful, stuttering attempts at reinvention, has embarrassed itself with hollow, attention-seeking criticisms and press releases,” Dare stated in a press release issued on Saturday.
He described the ADC as “a poorly amalgamated political contraption desperately clutching at straws for relevance it will never attain,” accusing the party of latching onto Buhari’s death to score political points.
“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,” he added.
The ADC had accused the Tinubu administration of using Buhari’s death for political mileage, a claim Dare dismissed as both dishonest and insulting to Nigerians mourning the late former leader.
“It is an insult to millions of Nigerians who genuinely mourn the loss of a statesman, and who watched the State Burial accorded Buhari with solemn respect and dignity,” Dare said.
Turning the accusation back on the opposition party, he declared: “Let it be said clearly: the ADC is the one exploiting Buhari’s death for political attention, not this government. They have chosen to dance on his grave for relevance.”
He referenced the “choreographed arrival” of prominent opposition figures such as Atiku Abubakar and Nasir El-Rufai in Daura, claiming their presence was part of a spectacle designed to hijack a moment of mourning.
According to the Presidency, President Tinubu’s government is not interested in “cheap popularity” but is committed to letting its achievements speak for themselves.
“Our administration is neither desperate nor chasing relevance. The Naira has been stabilised and exchange rates harmonised. Oil production has climbed to 1.7 million barrels per day. FAAC allocations have surged by over 60%, allowing 31 states previously weighed down by debt to now pay salaries, pensions, and contractors,” Dare stated.
He also pointed to the restoration of electricity to neglected areas and the completion of key infrastructure projects such as the Ogbia-Nembe Road, Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, and Sokoto-Badagry Road.
“About 400,000 students are now benefiting from the historic NELFUND loan scheme. Regional Commissions have been established to promote balanced national development. We’ve also launched a Consumer Credit Scheme to lay the groundwork for a credit-based economy and tackle corruption,” he added.
Dare affirmed that the state funeral held for President Buhari was conducted with “complete honour befitting a leader of his stature,” highlighting the attendance of world leaders and the wide national viewership.
He urged Nigerians to ignore what he called “the political noise from an outfit gasping for attention,” adding, “President Tinubu remains fully focused on delivering the Renewed Hope Agenda and will not dignify the desperate antics of political scavengers.”
The late Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria’s former military Head of State and two-term civilian President, passed away recently, triggering a wave of national mourning and tributes from around the world.
