Former Osun State governor and National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress, Rauf Aregbesola, on Tuesday launched a scathing critique of the administration of Bola Tinubu, describing its “renewed hope” agenda as deceptive and unfulfilled.
Speaking at the party’s national convention in Abuja, Aregbesola said nearly three years into the current administration, key promises made to Nigerians remain unmet, accusing the government of worsening socio-economic conditions across the country.
“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,” he said.
He warned that the administration could continue to recycle the same rhetoric without tangible results if not held accountable by voters.
“If allowed, this regime will continue to chant renewed hope till eternity. We have a duty to stop these scammers from retaining power,” he added.
The former governor cited rising poverty levels and declining education indicators as evidence of what he described as governance failure, claiming that the number of out-of-school children has increased from 18.3 million to 20 million, while about 130 million Nigerians are now classified as multidimensionally poor.
Aregbesola also faulted the federal government’s handling of insecurity, saying the country is experiencing unprecedented levels of violence linked to banditry and terrorism.
“This has been the worst time in terms of security in the nation, with banditry and terrorism spreading across the country,” he said.
He further criticised the president’s response to the 2025 Yelwata killings in Benue State, accusing him of showing insufficient empathy during a condolence visit.
“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 stated.
Aregbesola warned that Nigeria risks sliding into poor governance, cautioning against what he described as a drift towards kakistocracy.
“We cannot allow kakistocracy in Nigeria,” he said, adding that the administration must be judged by its own campaign commitments, 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 affairs, the ADC scribe defended the leadership of David Mark as chairman of the party, insisting that due process was followed and that the Independent National Electoral Commission was duly informed.
“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.
