Former Minister of Interior and National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Rauf Aregbesola, has called on President Bola Tinubu to step down, citing worsening insecurity and deepening economic hardship across the country.
The former Osun State governor made the remarks while addressing delegates at the ongoing ADC National Convention in Abuja on Tuesday, where he also described the President’s “Renewed Hope” agenda as a scam.
Aregbesola, in his address, criticised recent political developments and questioned the credibility of certain actors within the political space.
“People who deliberately split the Peoples Democratic Party are today being falsely roped as political strategists..Since when has criminality become a strategy? The ADC does not, and we never owe its existence to any individual or group, including an electoral body masquerading as a neutral umpire with its leadership in the attire of political partisanship.
“The ADC derives its existence from the aspirations and the values of the Nigerian people, who are tired of the deceit and colossal mismanagement to which this country is being subjugated. We owe our existence to the Nigerian Constitution. We declare that freedom of association, including that to form or belong to any political party, is guaranteed and is a fundamental right.
“We are here because the ADC is on a rescue mission to reclaim the country from the strangulating grasp of the ruling party. The APC is a party which has foisted on the country an electoral law that stinks of forgery, and making false claims in electoral documents is no longer valid; in other words, the ruling party is criminalising criminality.
“We proclaim our existence because our country is worth the necessary sacrifices. We cannot allow khaki-socracy in Nigeria. The government claims that the recent reduction in exchange rates demonstrates its mastery of the economy. This is false. In truth, the exchange rate, which was about 700 naira to the dollar at the open market, not the official rate, when this government assumed office in 2023, is now about N1,400. This amounts to a 1,400 per cent devaluation in an import-dependent economy. This is terribly devastating. The cost of a litre of fuel before this administration was between 185 and 238 naira. Depending on the part of the country you are in, now it is about 1,400 per litre and still rising,” he stated.
He further lamented the rising cost of living, noting that transportation expenses have increased to the point where many workers can no longer afford daily commutes.
Continuing, he criticised the administration’s handling of the power sector and accused it of failing to deliver on key promises.
“The administration told Nigerians that if it does not solve the power problem by providing a constant power supply, they should not be voted for a second time. Today, power supply is far worse, with some parts of the country receiving an average of two hours daily, and some other parts of the country also receiving an average of two hours daily. And some have been in darkness for stretches of weeks and months.
“Ordinarily, having made such a promise and fared woefully, an honest president should simply step down and not seek re-election. Rather, what we are witnessing is the most desperate attempt by a candidate in Nigerian electoral history to retain power at all costs, even if it means bringing down the entire democratic system.
“Distinguished delegates and our rival leaders, four years ago, this government promised Nigerians renewed hope for a better future. Now, three years into its four-year term, it still holds promise and offers renewed hope. When exactly will this hope come into fruition? The answer is simple. It is a scam. The answer is what? A scam! If allowed, this regime will continue shouting renewed hope to eternity. We have the duty to stop scammers from retaining power.”
Aregbesola also decried the spate of violent attacks across the country, which he said have resulted in significant loss of lives, describing the situation as a failure of the current administration.
He accused the government of worsening insecurity and lacking empathy in its response to national tragedies, while also criticising the state of education and the economy.
According to him, the number of out-of-school children has risen from 18.3 million to nearly 20 million, while more Nigerians have been pushed into extreme poverty.
He added, “Once again, distinguished delegates, the country is drifting, and we cannot allow this continued drift into hopelessness. This is why, as I pointed out earlier, the ADC is on a rescue mission.
“On this, there is no time to spare. We call on all conscientious citizens to join us, because a fence-sitter in movements like this that require decisiveness is either a traitor or a collaborator with those who seek to destroy our country.”
