The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of exploiting the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari for political gain.
In a statement released on Thursday, July 17, ADC slammed the government for staging what it called a “public relations show” under the guise of national mourning.
ADC’s Interim National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, signed the statement.
He described the Federal Executive Council (FEC) tribute and the appearance of Buhari’s son, Yusuf, as a well-rehearsed act to polish the Tinubu government’s image.
The ADC claimed the ruling party has spent the past year blaming Buhari for Nigeria’s economic challenges.
Now, the same government is pretending to honor his legacy to gain favour with Northern voters and loyalists of the late president. “Grief is not a campaign strategy,” the statement said.
The party warned that the family of the late president should be allowed to mourn in peace.
It criticised the invitation of Yusuf Buhari to the FEC meeting just days after burying his father.
“This administration has accused Buhari of ruining the economy. They scrapped his fuel subsidy policy and distanced themselves from his economic direction.
Yet today, they want to wear his legacy as a badge of honour,” the ADC stated.
It said the sudden tribute was a desperate move by an unpopular government struggling with credibility and rising public anger.
“This hypocrisy is in bad taste,” the party continued. “You can’t mock a man’s legacy while he’s alive and turn around to praise him once he’s dead, just because you need political mileage.”
The ADC reminded Nigerians that Tinubu’s top officials had often blamed Buhari for inflation, fuel subsidy debts, and foreign exchange troubles.
But now, it accused the presidency of using Buhari’s death to rewrite that narrative.
Earlier in the week, the ADC had warned the Buhari family about an alleged plan by the Tinubu camp to turn the former president’s death into a political campaign tool.
The party described the FEC tribute as part of that plan. “No PR stunt can fix a broken government,” the statement concluded. “Nigerians are watching and will not be fooled.”
