The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has condemned President Bola Tinubu’s administration, accusing it of exploiting the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari for political mileage and image rehabilitation.
A statement signed by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi on Friday described the federal government’s actions following Buhari’s death as a “cynical” and “stage-managed” attempt to gain sympathy, particularly in northern Nigeria where the late former president maintained significant influence.
“The choreographed Federal Executive Council (FEC) tribute, complete with a publicised appearance by our late President’s grieving son, was not a demonstration of genuine respect,” the party said.
“It was a calculated public relations stunt by an unpopular government, carefully stage-managed to distract Nigerians from the administration’s deepening failures and to rewrite history while the nation mourns.”
The statement comes after the Federal Executive Council held a session during which members paid tribute to Buhari, and his son, Yusuf Buhari, appeared publicly, drawing both sympathy and political commentary.
But the ADC insists that this was not a sincere gesture. According to the party, President Tinubu’s government has spent over a year blaming Buhari for the economic hardship faced by Nigerians and distancing itself from his policies—only to now claim allegiance to his legacy in a moment of national mourning.
“You cannot spend months discrediting a man’s legacy only to turn around and perform grief for the cameras,” the statement read.
“Grief is not a campaign strategy.”
The ADC particularly objected to Yusuf Buhari’s presence at the FEC meeting, describing it as “unconscionable” to involve a grieving son in a political setting.
“It is equally troubling that the young man, Mr. Yusuf Buhari, a private citizen and grieving son, was pulled into the political theatre of a Federal Executive Council meeting, just days after burying his father,” Abdullahi stated.
“Nigerians must ask, what kind of government uses the private pain of a bereaved family to varnish its own public image?”
The party reminded Nigerians of President Tinubu’s previous rhetoric, where his administration accused Buhari of leaving behind a broken economy and discredited many of his flagship policies, including the fuel subsidy regime and currency redesign.
“Since taking office, the Tinubu administration and its officials have launched a relentless campaign to disown their predecessor’s policies,” the ADC said.
“They have blamed Buhari for everything, accused him of fiscal recklessness, and claimed to have inherited a broken economy — not from the opposition, but from their own party’s former leader.”
The ADC warned that the government’s sudden display of affection for Buhari was nothing more than a calculated move to curry favour with northern political elites and Buhari loyalists, particularly ahead of upcoming elections and growing public discontent.
“Now that it suits their political agenda, they seek to recast themselves as defenders of the late President’s legacy, pretending to give him in death the honour they denied him while he was alive.”
The party reiterated an earlier warning it issued to Buhari’s family, urging them to be cautious of attempts to politicise the former president’s death.
“The unfolding stage-managed displays of grief and the exploitation of a mourning son who was compelled to perform gratitude in front of the cameras is unconscionable and must be condemned by all decent people,” the statement added.
The ADC urged Nigerians not to be swayed by what it called a “grand deceit,” asserting that no public relations effort could salvage the image of a government that had, in its words, governed “like an army of occupation.”
“Nevertheless, we are confident that Nigerians can see through their grand deceit,” Abdullahi said.
“No public relations stunt can save a government that has behaved in the last two years like an army of occupation.”
