The Presidency has issued a forceful rebuke of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) following the opposition party’s critical statements regarding former President Muhammadu Buhari’s state burial. In a strongly worded press release signed by Special Adviser on Media and Public Communications Sunday Dare, the government condemned what it described as the ADC’s “opportunistic exercise in manufactured outrage” and “laughable tantrum” by a party struggling for relevance.
The statement dismissed ADC’s allegations that the Tinubu administration was exploiting Buhari’s passing for political gain as “not only dishonest but an insult to millions of Nigerians who genuinely mourned the statesman.” It pointed to the dignified state funeral attended by world leaders and observed nationwide as evidence of the ceremony’s appropriateness. The Presidency accused the ADC of being the true opportunists, citing what it called the party’s “choreographed” appearances during burial events in Daura and “disgraceful press statements” as attempts to capitalize on the solemn occasion.
In a robust defense of its record, the administration listed numerous achievements including economic stabilization measures that increased FAAC allocations by 60%, infrastructure projects like the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, and social programs such as the student loan scheme benefiting 400,000 Nigerians. The statement emphasized that these tangible results, rather than political posturing, represented true leadership and honoring of Buhari’s legacy through governance.
The release characterized the ADC as a party mired in internal disputes and legal challenges, suggesting its criticisms stemmed from desperation rather than substantive opposition. It concluded by urging Nigerians to disregard what it termed “political noise from an outfit gasping for attention,” reaffirming President Tinubu’s focus on delivering the Renewed Hope Agenda despite what it called the “desperate antics of political scavengers.”
The unusually combative statement reflects the administration’s strategy of aggressively defending its record while marginalizing smaller opposition voices, particularly as the political landscape begins to take shape ahead of future elections. Political analysts note the response signals the Presidency’s unwillingness to concede any narrative ground to critics, even on matters of statesmanship and national mourning.
