Former Minister of Interior and National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Rauf Aregbesola, has called on President Bola Tinubu to resign, citing worsening insecurity and economic hardship across the country.
Aregbesola made the call on Tuesday while speaking at the ongoing National Convention of the African Democratic Congress in Abuja. In a strongly worded speech, he criticised the administration’s policies and described the government’s “Renewed Hope” agenda as a “scam.”
The former Osun State governor said Nigerians were facing increasing hardship, adding that the promises made by the current administration had not translated into real improvements in people’s lives.
“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,” Aregbesola said.
His comments come at a time when many Nigerians are grappling with rising cost of living, high fuel prices, and ongoing security challenges in different parts of the country.
Aregbesola criticised the government’s handling of the economy, especially the sharp fall in the value of the naira. According to him, the exchange rate has worsened significantly since the current administration took office in 2023.
He noted that while the naira traded around N700 to the dollar in the open market before the administration came in, it is now about N1,400 to the dollar. He said this situation has had serious effects on an import-dependent economy like Nigeria.
He also pointed to the sharp rise in fuel prices as a major burden on citizens. Before the current administration, he said, petrol sold for between N185 and N238 per litre, depending on location. Today, the price has risen to about N1,400 per litre in many parts of the country.
These increases, he said, have pushed up transportation costs and made it difficult for many workers to commute to their places of work.
“Transportation has become so expensive that it is now impractical for some workers to go to work,” he said.
Nigeria has faced economic pressure in recent years following the removal of fuel subsidy and the unification of exchange rates. While the government has defended these policies as necessary reforms, critics argue that they have led to increased hardship without enough support for ordinary citizens.
The former minister also raised concerns about the state of electricity supply in the country. He said the government had promised to improve power supply but has failed to meet expectations.
According to him, many parts of Nigeria now experience only a few hours of electricity daily, while some areas have been without power for weeks or even months.
“The administration told Nigerians that if it does not solve the power problem, it should not be voted for a second time. Today, power supply is far worse,” he said.
Electricity has remained a major challenge in Nigeria for decades, affecting businesses, households, and overall economic growth.
Aregbesola also criticised the security situation in the country, describing it as a failure of leadership. He referred to recent violent attacks that have led to loss of lives, though he did not mention specific incidents.
Nigeria continues to face security challenges, including insurgency in the North-East, banditry in the North-West, and other forms of violence in different regions.
The former governor accused the government of lacking empathy in its response to these incidents and failing to provide adequate protection for citizens.
In his speech, Aregbesola also criticised the ruling All Progressives Congress, accusing it of weakening democratic institutions and promoting what he described as questionable practices in the electoral system.
He alleged that the party had introduced policies that encourage wrongdoing, including what he described as irregularities in electoral processes.
He also took a swipe at the Peoples Democratic Party, claiming that internal divisions within the party were being wrongly presented as political strategy.
“Since when has criminality become a strategy?” he asked.
Aregbesola further stressed that the ADC is not controlled by any individual or group but is driven by the aspirations of Nigerians who are dissatisfied with the current state of the country.
Positioning the ADC as an alternative political platform, Aregbesola said the party is on a “rescue mission” to reclaim Nigeria from what he described as poor leadership.
He called on Nigerians to support the party and take a stand against what he called the “drift into hopelessness.”
“We are here because the ADC is on a rescue mission to reclaim the country from the strangulating grasp of the ruling party,” he said.
He urged citizens not to remain neutral, warning that those who fail to take a position in critical moments risk enabling bad governance.
“A fence-sitter in movements like this that require decisiveness is either a traitor or a collaborator,” he added.
Aregbesola is a key political figure in Nigeria, having served as governor of Osun State from 2010 to 2018 and later as Minister of Interior. He was once a close ally of President Tinubu, making his current criticism more significant in Nigeria’s political space.
The ADC, where he now serves as National Secretary, is one of the opposition parties seeking to gain more influence ahead of future elections.
Political analysts say his remarks reflect growing tension within Nigeria’s political class, as parties begin to position themselves for upcoming contests.
While the Federal Government has not officially responded to Aregbesola’s statements, it has consistently maintained that its policies are aimed at stabilising the economy and improving security in the long term.
As Nigerians continue to face economic and security challenges, statements like Aregbesola’s are likely to shape public debate in the coming months.