By George Omagbemi Sylvester
Former Osun state governor, Rauf Aregbesola, who is the current National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has sharply criticised President Bola Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope” agenda, describing it as a “scam” and accusing the administration of failing to deliver on its promises.
Speaking on Tuesday at the party’s national convention in Abuja, the former Osun State governor expressed frustration that, nearly three years into the administration, many Nigerians were still waiting for tangible improvements in their daily lives.
“Four years ago, this government promised Nigerians renewed hope. Now, three years into its tenure, it is still promising renewed hope,” Aregbesola said. “When exactly will this hope come into fruition? The answer is simple: it is a scam.”
His remarks reflected growing discontent among sections of the opposition, as he warned that continued reliance on rhetoric without results could deepen public disillusionment.
Aregbesola argued that the government’s policies have exacerbated socio-economic hardship, pointing to rising poverty levels and a worsening education crisis. He claimed that the number of out-of-school children has increased from 18.3 million to 20 million, while an estimated 130 million Nigerians are now living in multidimensional poverty.
Beyond economic concerns, he also criticised the administration’s handling of insecurity, describing the current period as one of the most challenging in Nigeria’s recent history, with banditry and terrorism affecting communities across the country.
He further questioned what he described as a lack of empathy from the presidency, referencing the 2025 Yelwata massacre in Benue State. According to him, the President’s decision to remain at the Government House during a condolence visit, rather than travelling to the affected community, sent the wrong message to grieving families.
“We cannot allow kakistocracy in Nigeria,” Aregbesola added, warning against what he characterised as a drift towards leadership by the least qualified. He urged greater accountability, particularly on key campaign promises such as improved 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 said.
On internal party matters, Aregbesola defended the emergence of David Mark as ADC national chairman, insisting that due process was followed and that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was duly notified.
He, however, accused the electoral body of partisanship, alleging that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is uneasy about the ADC’s growing influence as an opposition platform.
“The ADC is now the largest opposition platform with major political actors. It is clear that the APC is jittery,” he said, while calling on the international community to monitor what he described as biased actions by INEC.
His comments come amid intensifying political positioning ahead of future elections, with opposition parties seeking to consolidate support by highlighting governance challenges and public concerns.
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