The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised President Bola Tinubu, accusing him of exploiting the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari for political gain and public relations purposes.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Friday by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party condemned the Federal Executive Council (FEC) session held in Buhari’s honour, describing it as a staged and hypocritical performance aimed at reviving the administration’s dwindling popularity, especially in the North.
Recall that on Thursday, President Tinubu led a Special Federal Executive Council meeting at the State House in Abuja, where he delivered an emotional tribute to the late President Muhammadu Buhari.
In his speech, Tinubu commended Buhari’s leadership during a pivotal era in Nigeria’s history, noting that the former leader contributed significantly to preserving the country’s integrity, stability, education system, national security, and governance.
Tinubu further acknowledged that while Buhari was not without flaws, his unwavering dedication to national service set him apart. The session was attended by members of Buhari’s family, leaders of the National Assembly, and other dignitaries.
However, the ADC accused the Tinubu-led administration of double standards, stating that the same government spent over a year relentlessly blaming Buhari for Nigeria’s socio-economic challenges, only to now attempt to rebrand itself by publicly mourning him.
The party expressed its dismay, stating, “The ADC recalls how the Tinubu government distanced itself from Buhari’s policies, especially in areas such as the removal of fuel subsidy, economic mismanagement, and the general handling of public sector affairs.
“It is, therefore, deeply ironic and cynical for the same administration to now wrap itself in the late President’s legacy—one it consistently disparaged.”
“The choreographed tribute at the FEC meeting, complete with a televised appearance by the late President’s grieving son, was nothing but a calculated public relations stunt.
“This was not an act of sincere reverence but a carefully staged event designed to deflect attention from the Tinubu administration’s worsening governance failures and to reframe its historical narrative while the nation is still in mourning.”
ADC further criticised the government’s perceived hypocrisy, saying, “You cannot spend months maligning a man’s legacy and then suddenly perform public grief just to appear magnanimous.
Since coming to power, this administration has led an aggressive campaign to blame Buhari for every major crisis, from the economy to national security. Buhari was painted as the cause of Nigeria’s woes, while Tinubu positioned himself as the saviour.”
The statement continued: “Now, for political expediency, the same administration wants to portray itself as the custodian of Buhari’s memory—offering in death the honour they denied him in life. This duplicity is in poor taste and must be called out.”
The party also recalled its earlier warning to Buhari’s family, alerting them to an alleged plan by the government to leverage the former president’s death for political advantage.
“What Nigerians witnessed at the FEC meeting this week is only the beginning of a broader scheme. The exploitation of a grieving son, paraded before cameras in an orchestrated show of gratitude, is morally unacceptable and should be condemned by all right-thinking citizens.”
Despite the government’s efforts, the ADC expressed confidence that Nigerians are discerning enough to see through what it described as a “grand deception.”
The party concluded, “No amount of media spectacle or public relations spin can salvage a government that has conducted itself, over the past two years, like an occupying force rather than a democratic leadership.”
IREPORT247NEWS recalls that the ADC had earlier declared a three-day suspension of all political activities nationwide as a mark of respect for the late former President Buhari.
The party also called on the Federal Government to honour the deceased leader by naming national monuments or institutions after him or by initiating policies that reflect the principles and values he embodied throughout his public life.