By Eshiorameh Sebastian in Abuja
The Presidency has condemned the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC) for what it termed ‘shameless exploitation’ in its criticism of the state funeral honours accorded to former President Muhammadu Buhari, insisting the ceremony reflected the nation’s genuine respect for the deceased statesman.
In an official statement issued on Saturday, the Presidency characterised the ADC’s comments as an undignified outburst from an unstable political coalition grasping at relevance. The sharply-worded statement dismissed the opposition’s claims as transparently opportunistic.
The response follows a an earlier statement on Friday by the ADC, which alleged that the Tinubu administration had engaged in calculated political posturing during the late President Buhari’s state funeral arrangements.
The opposition party contended that the government had appropriated a moment of national mourning for partisan advantage while neglecting urgent governance matters.
ADC further suggested that the meticulously orchestrated funeral proceedings – which included attendance by several foreign heads of state – constituted “a deliberate diversion from the administration’s policy deficiencies.”
However, the Presidency’s response, signed by Special Adviser on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, dismissed these allegations as baseless and offensive.
“The ADC’s statement is not only dishonest but an insult to millions of Nigerians who genuinely mourned the passing of a statesman,” the statement read. “While President Tinubu’s administration accorded Buhari full honours befitting his service, the ADC has chosen to dance on his grave for political attention.”
The government’s rebuttal highlighted what it called the ADC’s pattern of “manufactured outrage,” noting that this was not the first time the party had issued “hollow, attention-seeking criticisms.” The statement pointedly reminded the public that the ADC—formed through a 2018 coalition of smaller opposition groups—has struggled with internal divisions and legal challenges to its leadership in recent years.
“Instead of addressing its own existential crises, the ADC specializes in issuing disjointed press statements on every national event,” the Presidency charged. “This is not opposition politics—it is political scavenging of the most desperate kind.”
The statement also referenced what it described as hypocritical behavior by ADC leaders during the burial ceremonies. It specifically mentioned how “certain ADC promoters were seen falling over themselves in Daura,” referring to the former president’s hometown, where dignitaries paid their respects. “The same party now criticizing the burial arrangements had its members prancing about the Buhari family compound like eager real estate agents,” the statement noted caustically.
In a detailed counterpoint, the Presidency catalogued what it presented as the Tinubu administration’s achievements—including economic stabilization, infrastructure projects, and social programs—to contrast with what it called the ADC’s lack of substantive policy alternatives. “While the ADC howls about imagined slights, this administration has delivered tangible results,” the statement asserted, listing accomplishments like increased oil production, the student loan scheme, and major road projects.
Political analysts note that the unusually combative tone reflects growing tensions between the ruling party and opposition groups ahead of the next election cycle. The ADC, which positioned itself as a reformist alternative after its formation, has recently intensified criticism of the government amid declining public confidence in some of Tinubu’s economic reforms.
The Presidency’s statement concluded with a dismissive assessment of the ADC’s relevance: “Nigerians should ignore this political noise from an outfit gasping for attention. Governance continues, the country remains stable, and President Tinubu remains focused on delivering the Renewed Hope Agenda.”
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