A war of words has broken out between Bayo Onanuga, special adviser on information and strategy to President Bola Tinubu, and Rauf Aregbesola, national secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), over the administration’s “Renewed Hope” agenda.
Aregbesola had, on Tuesday at the ADC national convention in Abuja, described the policy as a “scam”, arguing that the promises made by the Tinubu administration have not been fulfilled nearly three years into its tenure.
He said the government had continued to repeat the same message without delivering results, warning that Nigerians must resist what he described as an attempt to hold on to power without accountability.
Aregbesola accused the government of worsening the country’s socio-economic conditions, questioning when the promised “renewed hope” would become reality.
He said the administration continues to repeat the same promise without delivering tangible results, adding that Nigerians must resist what he called an attempt to retain power without accountability.
Rising Poverty, Education Crisis
The former Osun State governor pointed to worsening poverty levels and education indicators as signs of failure.
According to him, 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 criticised the federal government’s handling of insecurity, particularly the spread of banditry and terrorism across the country.
He referenced the 2025 Yelwata killings in Benue State, faulting the president’s response and describing it as lacking empathy toward affected communities.
Warning Against ‘Kakistocracy’
He warned that Nigeria risks being governed by what he described as “the least qualified”, cautioning against a drift toward kakistocracy.
Aregbesola said the government should be held to its own promises, especially on electricity, arguing that failure to deliver should have consequences.
Onanuga Hits Back
In a response posted on X, Onanuga dismissed Aregbesola’s remarks as misleading and accused him of ignoring his own record in office.
He described the ADC convention as illegitimate and criticised the party’s leadership, accusing its members of lacking credible plans for the country.
Onanuga also alleged that Aregbesola’s time as governor of Osun State was marked by hardship, including unpaid salaries and financial difficulties for workers and pensioners.
Criticism Of Past Record
According to him, civil servants in Osun experienced months of unpaid wages during Aregbesola’s administration, with some receiving only a fraction of their salaries.
He further claimed that pensioners were also affected, with delays in payments creating hardship for retirees.
Onanuga extended his criticism to Aregbesola’s tenure as minister of interior under former President Muhammadu Buhari, linking it to incidents of jailbreaks and security breaches across the country.
He cited the Kuje prison break in Abuja and other attacks on correctional facilities, which he said led to thousands of inmates escaping.
Defence Of Renewed Hope Agenda
Onanuga maintained that the Tinubu administration’s “Renewed Hope” agenda is delivering results, rejecting Aregbesola’s characterisation of it as a failure.
He added that those criticising the government were the real “scammers”, taking a swipe at politicians aligned with the ADC.
The exchange highlights growing political tensions ahead of the 2027 elections, with both sides trading accusations over governance and past records.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.
