Former Director General of the Voice of Nigeria (VoN), Mr. Osita Okechukwu, has strongly criticized the African Democratic Congress (ADC) over its alleged plans to capitalize on the support base of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, famously known for commanding a 12 million-strong vote-bank across Nigeria.
Okechukwu, a prominent chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), made his comments in Abuja on Sunday, following an interdenominational church service held in honour of the late President Buhari. He dismissed the aspirations of certain ADC politicians as unachievable and lacking in moral substance, arguing that none of them could come close to replicating Buhari’s legacy, character, or credibility.
“With the greatest respect to prominent politicians who expectedly want to inherit late President Buhari’s much-celebrated 12 million vote-bank; one wishes to submit that Buhari’s shoe is too big. His uncommon humanity, integrity, transparency quotient, and moral compass are antithetical and a herculean task to their aspirations,” Okechukwu remarked.
He emphasized that President Buhari’s legacy was built on decades of consistent public service, beginning from his tenure as a military governor to his eventual rise to the presidency, which he served with dedication and a strong anti-corruption posture. According to Okechukwu, this legacy cannot simply be transferred or inherited by individuals who lack a similar track record.
Okechukwu went on to criticize ADC figures, accusing them of lacking experience in genuine anti-corruption efforts and instead relying on questionable political tactics, including vote-buying during previous elections. He claimed that their history in public service was marred by controversies related to self-enrichment and the mismanagement of vital national assets such as NEPA, Ajaokuta Steel, and the Aluminium Smelter Company.
He also addressed what he described as the ADC’s exploitation of regional sentiments, particularly the so-called “northern card.” Okechukwu asserted that this strategy is bound to fail, as the Northern electorate has demonstrated political sophistication and nationalistic values in the past.
“Flying the northern card is a mirage because the Northern electorate is one of the most sophisticated. They showed their patriotism by voting more for Abiola in 1993 and giving Tinubu more votes in 2023 than the Southern electorate,” he explained, suggesting that the North would not be swayed by superficial political moves.
Okechukwu warned that attempts by the ADC to divide the country along regional lines could threaten national unity and violate the principles of equity, justice, and fairness, which he described as the foundations of Nigeria’s democratic structure.
“Those who crave access to the famed Buhari’s 12 million vote-bank are consciously pitching the North against the South. They should have a rethink because equity, justice, and fairness constitute the bedrock of our democracy,” he cautioned.
In addition, he revealed that a purported plot by the ADC to absorb remnants of the now-defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), once led by Buhari, had been effectively resisted by key stakeholders including former governors Tanko Almakura and Aminu Masari, who blocked the attempted political merger.
Concluding his remarks, Okechukwu called on all political actors to respect the enduring legacy of Muhammadu Buhari and to commit themselves to upholding the principles of integrity, unity, and democratic stability that have sustained Nigeria's Fourth Republic.