- Bayo Onanuga criticised the African Democratic Congress, calling it a platform of desperate politicians
- He responded to remarks by Rauf Aregbesola, who had described the Renewed Hope Agenda as a scam
- Onanuga defended President Bola Tinubu’s administration, insisting its economic reforms were yielding positive results
The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has strongly criticised the African Democratic Congress (ADC), describing it as a platform of “desperate politicians” lacking a coherent national agenda.
Onanuga’s remarks came in response to comments made by ADC National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, during the party’s National Convention in Abuja on Tuesday. Aregbesola had reportedly described the administration’s “Renewed Hope Agenda” as a “classic scam”, prompting a sharp rebuttal from the presidency.
In a post shared on his X (formerly Twitter) account, Onanuga dismissed Aregbesola’s claims, stating: “No, Rauf. The real scammers are the politicians inside the SPV called ADC.” He accused the former Osun State governor of echoing opposition narratives and misrepresenting the government’s performance.
“At the event, Aregbesola reportedly called on his former boss, mentor, and benefactor to resign, parroting the opposition’s warped narratives about the economy and orchestrated reports of terrorist attacks in some parts of the country,” Onanuga said.
The presidential aide also took aim at Aregbesola’s record in public office. He criticised his tenure as governor of Osun State, alleging that it was marked by significant hardship, including delayed salaries for civil servants and difficulties faced by pensioners.
Onanuga further referenced Aregbesola’s time as Minister of Interior, claiming that challenges such as delays in obtaining Nigerian passports and a series of prison breaks, including the widely reported Kuje correctional facility escape, occurred under his watch.
“For someone who failed so woefully to secure our correctional centres, it is ironic that Aregbesola now seeks to lecture others on insecurity,” he added.
Defending the Tinubu administration, Onanuga maintained that while certain economic reforms had produced short-term difficulties, the government had taken steps to mitigate their impact. He pointed to measures such as cash transfers and support for small businesses as evidence of intervention efforts.
He also asserted that key economic indicators were showing improvement, citing growth in GDP, stronger foreign reserves and a buoyant stock market as signs of increasing investor confidence.
“The Renewed Hope Agenda is not a scam,” Onanuga insisted, reaffirming the administration’s commitment to its policy direction despite criticism from opposition figures.
ADC insists convention will hold despite venue dispute
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that A member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) convention planning committee, Dino Melaye, has declared that no force can prevent the party from proceeding with its scheduled convention, despite reported attempts to deny access to the venue.
The convention, slated for Tuesday, had faced uncertainty amid claims that organisers were being blocked from using the agreed facility. Concerns emerged after reports suggested that the party was at risk of losing the venue at the last minute.