Stop Playing Politics with a Dead Man, Buhari’s Burial Not Your Campaign Ground
ABUJA
July 19, 2025
CivicPulseNg
The Presidency has issued a blistering response to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), accusing the opposition party of political opportunism and dishonesty following its controversial statement on the state burial of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
In a strongly-worded press release signed by Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Media and Public Communications, the ADC was described as a “political contraption desperately clutching at straws for relevance,” and accused of “dancing on Buhari’s grave” in a bid to attract attention.
The Presidency was reacting to a statement by the ADC in which the party alleged that President Tinubu’s government was “politicising Buhari’s death for cheap popularity.” However, Dare dismissed the allegation as not only false but deeply disrespectful to both the former president and the millions of Nigerians mourning his death.
The ADC’s latest outburst is nothing more than an opportunistic exercise in manufactured outrage — a laughable tantrum by a party that exists only on paper,” the statement read.
Dare criticized the ADC for consistently issuing “disjointed press statements” in a bid to appear relevant, asserting that its comments on Buhari’s burial crossed the boundaries of political decency.
“It Is the ADC That Is Exploiting Buhari’s Death”
Contrary to ADC’s claims, Dare argued it is the opposition party, not the Tinubu administration, that has attempted to weaponize Buhari’s passing for political capital.
He cited the appearance of opposition figures such as Atiku Abubakar and Nasir El-Rufai at Buhari’s burial in Daura — an event he described as “choreographed” and “politically staged.”
From Atiku and El Rufai’s choreographed arrival in Daura to this disgraceful press statement, the ADC has shown itself to be utterly shameless,” Dare wrote.
He further took a swipe at ADC members for “prancing about the Buhari family compound like eager real estate agents scouting new territory.”
Presidency Lists Tinubu’s Achievements in Rebuttal
To contrast what it called “noisy irrelevance” with results, the Presidency highlighted a list of President Tinubu’s economic and infrastructural achievements during his first year in office, including:
Stabilization of the naira and harmonization of exchange rates.
Boost in oil production to 1.7 million barrels per day.
60% increase in monthly FAAC allocations.
Payment of salaries and pensions by 31 previously struggling states.
Infrastructure projects such as the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, Ogbia-Nembe Road, and Sokoto-Badagry Road.
Launch of the National Student Loan Scheme (NELFUND) benefiting 400,000 students.
Introduction of Nigeria’s first Consumer Credit Scheme.
“These are not press statements. These are tangible results,” Dare emphasized.
ADC’s Internal Crisis: A Party in Disarray?
The statement didn’t stop at policy defense. It directly mocked the ADC’s credibility, pointing to the party’s “internal squabbles” and “multiple court cases” threatening its survival.
If the ADC spent half the time it uses on press releases fixing its internal crises, it wouldn’t be this irrelevant,” Dare jabbed.
He insisted that Nigerians are not deceived by “venomous” press statements and would rather align with a government showing visible progress.
Final Verdict: “Political Scavengers Won’t Distract Tinubu”
Dare ended the release by reiterating President Tinubu’s focus on national development and dismissing the ADC’s criticism as political noise from “desperate scavengers.”
Governance continues. Nigeria is stable. And President Tinubu remains focused on delivering the Renewed Hope Agenda — not on dignifying the desperate antics of political scavengers,” the statement concluded.
