A fresh war of words has erupted between presidential aide Bayo Onanuga and former Interior Minister Rauf Aregbesola following scathing remarks about the Federal Government’s policies.
Onanuga, who serves as Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu, dismissed Aregbesola’s criticism of the administration’s “Renewed Hope” agenda, describing it as the outburst of a politician with a poor track record in office.
The presidential aide was reacting to comments made by Aregbesola during the eighth national convention of the African Democratic Congress in Abuja. At the event, the former Osun State governor accused the ruling party of lacking vision and branded its flagship agenda a “scam.”
Aregbesola said the ADC was on a “rescue mission” to free Nigeria from what he called the grip of the ruling party. He also criticised the electoral system, alleging that recent laws had weakened accountability and encouraged malpractice.
Turning to the economy, the former minister lamented the sharp fall of the naira, noting that the currency had weakened significantly against the dollar since 2023. He also decried the steep rise in fuel prices, which he said had worsened the cost of living and made transportation unaffordable for many Nigerians.
He further painted a grim picture of the power sector, claiming that some parts of the country now experience only a few hours of electricity daily, while others endure prolonged blackouts.
In a bold remark, Aregbesola urged President Tinubu to step down, arguing that the administration had failed to deliver on key promises and should not seek re-election.
But Onanuga fired back, insisting that Aregbesola lacked the moral standing to criticise the current government. He pointed to the former governor’s tenure in Osun State, which he described as marked by economic hardship, unpaid salaries, and suffering among pensioners.
According to Onanuga, the situation was so severe that subsequent administrations, including that of former governor Adegboyega Oyetola and current governor Ademola Adeleke, have had to deal with its aftermath.
He also took aim at Aregbesola’s time as Minister of Interior under former President Muhammadu Buhari, citing multiple prison breaks and security lapses, including the 2022 Kuje correctional facility attack.
Onanuga further argued that despite challenges, the Tinubu administration has recorded measurable progress, including wage increases, easing inflation, and improved economic indicators. He acknowledged that reforms have caused temporary hardship but said the government has rolled out measures to cushion their effects.
He concluded with a sharp rebuttal, insisting that the “Renewed Hope” agenda remains valid, while accusing opposition figures of misleading Nigerians for political gain.
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