The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has strongly condemned what it describes as a “calculated and cynical” attempt by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to exploit the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari in order to salvage its tarnished public image.
In a sharply worded statement issued by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC accused the Tinubu government of staging a choreographed display of grief during this week’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting. The party described the public tribute and the widely-publicised attendance of Buhari’s bereaved son, Yusuf Buhari, as a manipulative political theatre designed to appeal to Northern sentiment and Buhari loyalists.
“The same administration that has spent over a year blaming Buhari for Nigeria’s economic collapse is now trying to wrap itself in his legacy,” the ADC said. “This is not genuine mourning; it is a hypocritical and opportunistic PR stunt meant to whitewash a government that has failed woefully on its own merits.”
The party emphasized that President Tinubu and his team had repeatedly distanced themselves from Buhari-era policies, especially in areas like fuel subsidy, economic management, and governance practices. “This government vilified Buhari while he was alive. Now, it wants to honour him in death to score political points. Nigerians are not fooled,” the statement read.
Calling out the administration’s use of a grieving family member in an official setting, the ADC expressed outrage over what it termed the “emotional exploitation” of Yusuf Buhari. “What kind of government drags a private, grieving son into a political stage show? Just days after burying his father, Yusuf was paraded at a FEC meeting, forced to perform gratitude for cameras in what can only be described as heartless and disgraceful,” Abdullahi stated.
The ADC reminded Nigerians that, since assuming power, Tinubu’s officials have consistently accused the Buhari administration of leaving behind a broken economy and a dysfunctional government structure. The party noted that this narrative was a key part of the Tinubu government’s early messaging, aimed at dissociating itself from the failures of its predecessor—despite both men coming from the same political party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“From day one, this government has said Buhari was the problem and Tinubu is the solution,” the ADC said. “But now that it suits their political survival, they pretend to be defenders of the same legacy they discredited.”
The ADC further warned the public to brace for more such politically motivated displays of orchestrated grief. It recalled a prior warning issued earlier in the week, cautioning Buhari’s family to be wary of attempts by political actors to hijack their mourning for partisan gain.
“What we witnessed at FEC this week is only the beginning. This government is desperate, and it will stop at nothing to manipulate the emotions of Nigerians, especially those who still hold the late President in high esteem,” the statement added.
In conclusion, the ADC called on all well-meaning Nigerians to condemn the government’s actions, warning that no amount of public relations maneuvering can rescue an administration that has, in its words, “behaved like an army of occupation.”
“Grief is sacred. It should never be weaponised as a campaign strategy. The Tinubu government’s insincerity is transparent, and the Nigerian people can see through the deceit,” the statement concluded.
