The National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Rauf Aregbesola, has described President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda as a “scam”, accusing the administration of worsening Nigeria’s socio-economic conditions and failing to deliver on key promises nearly three years into its tenure.
Speaking on Tuesday at the ADC national convention in Abuja, Aregbesola said the government had continued to repeat promises without delivering tangible results.
“Four years ago, this government promised Nigerians renewed hope. Now, three years into its tenure, it is still promising renewed hope. When exactly will this hope come into fruition? The answer is simple: it is a scam. If allowed, this regime will continue to chant renewed hope till eternity. We have a duty to stop these scammers from retaining power,” he said.
The former Osun State governor said indicators of poverty and education had worsened under the current administration.
He claimed that the number of out-of-school children had increased from 18.3 million to 20 million, while about 130 million Nigerians were now classified as multidimensionally poor.
On insecurity, he said the country was facing its worst phase of banditry and terrorism, adding that government response had been inadequate.
“This has been the worst time in terms of security in the nation, with banditry and terrorism spreading across the country. But also worried is the lack of empathy by the president after the 2025 Yelwata massacre in Benue State. The president, on a condolence trip, did not visit the affected community; rather, he held court at the government house in Benue State,” he said.
Aregbesola also warned against what he described as a drift towards “kakistocracy”, insisting that Nigeria must not be governed by “the least qualified”.
“We cannot allow kakistocracy in Nigeria,” he said, adding that the government should be held accountable to its promises, particularly on electricity supply.
“The government once said it should not be voted for if it fails to provide electricity. An honest president would step down rather than seek re-election under such circumstances,” he added.
On internal party matters, Aregbesola defended the leadership of former Senate President David Mark as chairman of the ADC, insisting that due process was followed and that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had been duly notified and acknowledged the party’s processes.
“Nobody has the locus standi to challenge the leadership of David Mark. Our last NEC meeting was observed by INEC officials, and the report was formally submitted and acknowledged by the commission,” he said.
He also alleged that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is unsettled by the growing strength of the ADC and accused INEC of partisanship, calling on the international community to take note of what he described as biased actions.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
