By Muhammad Mamman
In a blistering rebuke, the Presidency has condemned the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for accusing President Bola Tinubu’s administration of manipulating the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari for political advantage. The ADC’s claims, issued on Friday, were dismissed as “obnoxious” and a desperate bid for relevance by a party struggling to define itself.
Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, minced no words in his response on Saturday, 19 July 2025. He accused the ADC of disrespecting Buhari’s memory and “dancing on his grave” to garner attention. “Let it be crystal clear: it is the ADC exploiting Buhari’s passing for political mileage, not this government,” Dare declared.
He pointed to the opposition’s orchestrated appearance in Daura, complete with “choreographed chants,” as a cynical attempt to politicise a solemn moment.
Dare highlighted the dignity of Buhari’s state burial, which drew global leaders and millions of Nigerians who watched with reverence via television and social media.
He lambasted ADC figures for their behaviour in Daura, likening them to “eager estate agents scouting new territory” at the Buhari family compound. “This is not opposition; it’s opportunism,” he said, urging Nigerians to dismiss the ADC’s “manufactured outrage” as the tantrum of a “poorly amalgamated political contraption.”
The Presidency contrasted the ADC’s “sanctimonious whining” with the Tinubu administration’s tangible achievements, including stabilising the naira, boosting oil production to 1.7 million barrels per day, increasing FAAC allocations by over 60%, and delivering infrastructure like the Ogbia-Nembe Road and Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.
The establishment of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), benefiting 400,000 students, and the Consumer Credit Scheme were cited as groundbreaking steps toward a robust, corruption-resistant economy. “These are results, not press releases,” Dare emphasised.
The ADC, mired in internal squabbles and legal battles over its legitimacy, was accused of resorting to baseless attacks to stay relevant. “A party grappling with an identity crisis dares to lecture on governance and decorum? Utterly ridiculous,” Dare remarked. He reaffirmed President Tinubu’s commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda, honouring Buhari’s legacy through action, not hollow rhetoric.
The Presidency called on Nigerians to see through the ADC’s “venomous” tactics and focus on the nation’s progress under Tinubu’s steady leadership. “Governance continues, Nigeria is stable, and we will not dignify the antics of political scavengers,” Dare concluded.
Sunday Dare
Special Adviser to the President on Media & Public Communications
19 July 2025
