Aregbesola tells Tinubu to resign, says “Renewed Hope has turned Renewed Scam”

By Jude Opara

Former governor of Osun state and National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has called on President Bola Tinubu to resign without further delay over the persistent economic hardship and rising spate of insecurity in the country.

Aregbesola, who is also a former Minister of Interior spoke in Abuja on Tuesday at the National Convention of the ADC where he equally described President Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda” as “renewed scam”.

He said those that have deliberately destroyed the opposition political parties have been calling themselves “political strategists”, even as he wondered when criminality have now been renamed as strategy.

The National Secretary added that unlike most of the political parties that are tied to some certain individuals, the ADC on the other hand derives its existence and power from the people of Nigeria.

“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which has foisted on the country an electoral law that stinks forgery and making false claims in electoral documents is no longer valid, in other words, the ruling party is criminalizing criminality.

“We proclaim our existence because our country is worth necessary sacrifices. The government claims that the recent reduction in the exchange rates show its mastery of economies.This is false. In truth, the exchange rate, which was about N700 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 1,400 percent devaluation in an import-dependent economy. This is terribly devastating. The cost of a litre of fuel before this administration was between N185 and N238 Naira. Depending on the part of the country you are, now it is about 1,400 per litre and still rising.”

The ADC chieftain equally frowned over the rising transportation costs which he noted has thrown the masses into untold hardship as they daily struggle to go about their legitimate businesses. He added that due the poor power generation, most people are daily forced to go out to do simple tasks they should have stayed at home to do.

“The administration told Nigerians that if it does not solve the power problem by providing 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”.

Aregbesola, a former ally of President Tinubu reminded Nigerians that four years ago, the government came up with the “Renewed Hope” mantra, insisting they it has failed to deliver, warning that nothing good will eventually come out of the Tinubu administration.

“Now, three years into its four-year term or tenure, it is still promising Renewed Hope. When exactly will this hope come into fruition? The answer is simple. It is a scam. If allowed, this regime will continue shouting Renewed Hope to eternity. We have the duty to stop scammers from retaining power”.

He further warned that the country is drifting, while calling on all and sundry to join hands and end the alleged drift by voting the APC out of power in 2027.