The Presidency has fired back at the African Democratic Congress over its allegation that President Bola Tinubu was exploiting the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari for political gains.

This is even as the ADC described the appointment of Muhammad Babangida, the son of former military leader Ibrahim Babangida and others as a, “desperate, cynical attempt to buy back the trust that he has spent over a year squandering, particularly in Northern Nigeria.”

The ADC had earlier criticised Tinubu’s actions since Buhari’s death, describing it as a “cynical” and “stage-managed” attempt to gain sympathy, particularly in the North where the former president maintained significant influence.

In response, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, in a statement on Saturday, said ADC’s criticism was “a laughable tantrum by a poorly amalgamated political contraption desperately clutching at straws for relevance it will never attain.”

Dare said, “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 to lecture the President of the Federal Republic on governance, decorum, and public accountability. How utterly ridiculous.

“Let it be said clearly: the ADC is the one exploiting Buhari’s death for political attention, not this government.

“From Atiku and El-Rufai’s choreographed arrival in Daura; greeted with chants seeking to make political capital from the solemnity of the moment — to this disgraceful press statement, the ADC has shown itself to be utterly shameless.”

Dare said while the ADC was issuing “venomous” press releases, President Tinubu was delivering real results.

He listed several key achievements of the administration, including stabilisation of the naira, increased oil production, improved FAAC allocations, infrastructure projects across regions, and the launch of initiatives like the NELFUND student loan scheme and the Consumer Credit Scheme.

Also, the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Ajibola Basiru, in an interview with our correspondent, condemned the ADC’s posture, describing it as a shameful attempt to politicise the death of a national icon.

“It is obvious they think the former President doesn’t deserve a befitting burial. It is unfortunate that those power-hungry fellows think the best thing to do with the passage of a great patriot is to do politics with his burial. They are obviously pained that President Bola Tinubu got deserved accolades for celebrating the departed iconic leader and pioneer President of our party,” he said.

Basiru added that the outburst from the ADC only reflected a lack of empathy and national maturity, urging Nigerians to be vigilant and not fall for what he called the “heartless antics” of political opportunists.

Reacting to Tinubu’s recent appointments, the Interim National Publicity Secretary of ADC, Bolaji Abdullahi, said Tinubu cannot win over the north with token federal appointments.

Tinubu had appointed Muhammad Babangida, son of former military leader Ibrahim Babangida, as Chairman of the revamped Bank of Agriculture.

Other appointments include Lydia Kalat Musa (Kaduna): Chairman, Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority, Jamilu Wada Aliyu (Kano): Chairman, National Educational Research and Development Council, Yahuza Ado Inuwa (Kano): Chairman, Standard Organisation of Nigeria, Sanusi Musa (SAN) (Kano): Chairman, Institute of Peace and Conflict Resolution, Prof. Al-Mustapha Alhaji Aliyu (Sokoto): DG, Directorate of Technical Cooperation in Africa and Sanusi Garba Rikiji (Zamfara): DG, Nigerian Office for Trade Negotiations among others.

Abdullahi, in a statement on Saturday, said key decisions by Tinubu’s administration, including subsidy removal and most political appointments, were made without northern input.

The statement read In part, “These appointments are nothing more than political panic management, a frantic attempt to bandage the gaping wounds inflicted on Northern Nigeria by over a year of calculated neglect, presidential arrogance and unprecedented nepotism.

“For over a year, this government turned a blind eye as bandits terrorised villages in the north, as our farmers abandoned their land, and as rural economies crumbled under the weight of poorly thought-out fuel subsidy removal.

“Now, under the rising heat of public discontent, and with the emergence of a formidable opposition coalition gaining traction in the North and across the country, President Tinubu suddenly remembers that there are Nigerians to appoint into positions outside Lagos.

“Every major decision of this administration, from subsidy removal to a majority of the political appointments, has been taken without the North at the table. Now that the consequences of those decisions have become glaring, the President is doling out appointments as consolation prizes.”

ADC further stated that northerners, as equal stakeholders in the federation, are too discerning to be misled by such token appointments.

The party advised Tinubu to desist from what it described as “Bourdillon-style appeasement politics,” and embrace real national inclusion through consultation, policy equity, and sincere federal character. (Sunday PUNCH)