SCRATCHING REBUKE from the presidency has dismissed criticism by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) over the state burial of former President Muhammadu Buhari, accusing the party of politicising a solemn national event for cheap relevance.
In a statement signed by Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, the presidency described the ADC’s remarks as “manufactured outrage” and an “opportunistic exercise” designed to attract attention rather than offer meaningful political contribution.
The response follows a press release by the ADC accusing President Bola Tinubu’s government of exploiting Buhari’s death for political gain.
The presidency maintained that Buhari’s burial was conducted with full honours, befitting his national stature, and drew respect from world leaders and millions of Nigerians.
According to the statement, any suggestion otherwise dishonours the memory of the late former president and insults the people who mourned him.
Without naming individuals, the presidency criticised public figures who appeared in Daura during the burial, suggesting their presence was choreographed to gain political mileage.
It added that “ADC promoters were falling over themselves” at the burial site in apparent attempts to be seen, likening their behaviour to real estate agents scouting territory.
The statement went further to list key achievements of the Tinubu administration, contrasting what it called “tangible, measurable results” with the ADC’s alleged failure to provide viable opposition or policy alternatives.
These accomplishments included stabilising the naira, boosting oil production to 1.7 million barrels per day, increasing FAAC allocations by over 60 percent, paying salaries in 31 states, restoring power to underserved communities, and commissioning major infrastructure projects.
The rollout of the student loan scheme under NELFUND, the launch of a consumer credit programme, and the establishment of regional development commissions were also highlighted as evidence of performance.
Criticism was also directed at the ADC’s internal structure, describing it as “a poorly amalgamated political contraption” facing legal battles and internal crises.
The presidency asserted that the party had crossed “every known line of decency” in its pursuit of publicity.
The presidency concluded by reaffirming its commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda, urging Nigerians to dismiss “the desperate antics of political scavengers” and focus on the country’s forward momentum under Tinubu’s leadership.
The statement represents a clear effort by the presidency to defend its conduct during a period of national mourning while projecting confidence in its policy direction and achievements.
