In a blistering rebuttal released today, Bayo Onanuga, spokesperson for the Presidency, dismissed recent criticisms made by former Minister of Interior Rauf Aregbesola, labeling him a “failed politician” with a “woeful” track record.
The statement comes after Aregbesola reportedly called for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s resignation during an elective convention for the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Onanuga characterized the ADC as nothing more than a “Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV)” for power-hungry individuals lacking a credible agenda for Nigeria.
Onanuga did not mince words regarding Aregbesola’s eight-year tenure as Governor of Osun State, describing it as a period of “unmitigated hardship.”
The Presidency accused Aregbesola of leaving Osun with negative federal allocations due to heavy debt. Onanuga noted that under Aregbesola’s “half-baked socialist policies,” civil servants were often paid only 20% to 30% of their salaries, while many pensioners died waiting for arrears.
The statement credited former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola with attempting to fix the “financial recklessness” left behind, a task currently being navigated by Governor Adeleke.
The Presidency further attacked Aregbesola’s performance as Minister of Interior (2019–2023), calling his lectures on insecurity “ironic” and “hypocritical.” Onanuga highlighted several low points of that tenure:
A record 15 major attacks on correctional facilities, including the Kuje Prison escape, leading to the flight of over 4,000 inmates.
Passport Crisis: Aregbesola was criticized for turning the process of obtaining a Nigerian passport into a “nightmarish” ordeal for citizens.
“For someone who failed so woefully to secure our correctional centres… it is ironic that Aregbesola now seeks to lecture others on insecurity,” Onanuga stated.
Countering Aregbesola’s claims that the current administration’s reforms are a “scam,” Onanuga insisted the Renewed Hope Programme is yielding tangible results despite inherited challenges.
Addressing the “inherited scourge” of banditry, the Presidency emphasized that President Tinubu is aggressively equipping the military and intelligence agencies while seeking international partnerships to stabilize the nation.
In his closing remarks, Onanuga warned Nigerians to remain vigilant against “desperados” who weaponize isolated security incidents for political gain. “No, Rauf,” the statement concluded, “The real scammers are the politicians gathered inside the SPV called ADC.”
