The Presidency, through the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, on Saturday, strongly criticized a statement issued by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) concerning the state burial of former President Muhammadu Buhari, describing it as an “obnoxious statement.”
Dare accused the ADC of attempting to “exploit” Buhari’s death for political purposes, characterizing the party’s remarks as a “laughable tantrum” and “manufactured outrage.”
In a scathing response delivered Saturday, Dare dismissed the ADC’s position as a desperate move from what he called a “poorly amalgamated political contraption desperately clutching at straws for relevance it will never attain.”
He pointed to a recurring trend of what he termed “hollow, attention-seeking criticisms” coming from the party, which he said is still struggling with its identity.
“This is not the first time the ADC, in its pitiful, stuttering attempts at reinvention, has embarrassed itself with hollow, attention-seeking criticisms and press releases.
“A party still grappling with an identity crisis presumes lecturing the President of the Federal Republic on governance, decorum, and public accountability. How utterly ridiculous,” Dare stated.
The Special Adviser responded directly to the ADC’s accusation that President Tinubu’s administration is “exploiting” Buhari’s passing.
He rejected the claim as both dishonest and “an insult to millions of Nigerians who genuinely mourn the loss of a statesman, and who watched the State Burial accorded Buhari with solemn respect and dignity.”
Dare, in turn, accused the ADC of politicizing the event: “Let it be said clearly: the ADC is the one exploiting Buhari’s death for political attention, not this government. They have chosen to dance on his grave for relevance.”
He referenced what he described as the “choreographed arrival” of Atiku and El Rufai in Daura, claiming the appearance was greeted with chants intended to turn a moment of mourning into a political spectacle, further demonstrating what he called the ADC’s “utterly shameless” behavior.
According to the Presidency, President Tinubu’s government remains focused and unbothered by such distractions, choosing instead to let its “growing list of achievements speak louder than the noisy irrelevance of groups like the ADC.”
Dare emphasized that former President Buhari was buried with the “complete honour befitting a leader of his stature,” as evidenced by the presence of global dignitaries and widespread national attention.
While the ADC “howls,” Dare listed several accomplishments of the current administration: “The Naira has been stabilised and exchange rates harmonised. Oil production has increased to 1.7 million barrels per day (MBPD), and FAAC allocations have surged by over 60%. As a result, 31 states, previously burdened by debt, are now able to pay salaries, pensions, and contractors. The Naira has also been decoupled from oil market volatility, regaining resilience.
“Furthermore, electricity has been restored to long-neglected communities, and significant infrastructure projects like the Ogbia-Nembe Road, Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, and Sokoto-Badagry Road have been delivered.
“About 400,000 students are benefiting from the historic NELFUND loan scheme, and Regional Commissions have been established to drive balanced development nationwide. The Consumer Credit Scheme has also been launched, laying the foundation for a credit-based economy and combating corruption.”
In closing, Dare urged the public to ignore what he called the “political noise from an outfit gasping for attention,” reaffirming President Tinubu’s commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda and insisting the administration would not engage with the “desperate antics of political scavengers.”