Former Minister of Interior and National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress, Rauf Aregbesola, has described President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope” agenda as a “scam,” calling on him to resign over worsening insecurity and economic hardship.

Aregbesola made the remarks while addressing delegates at the ADC National Convention in Abuja, delivering a scathing assessment of the administration’s performance nearly three years into its tenure.

“Four years ago, this government promised Nigerians renewed hope for a better future. Now, three years into its four-year term, it still holds promise and offers renewed hope. When exactly will this hope come into fruition? The answer is simple — it is a scam,” he said.

The former Osun State governor argued that the administration has fallen short of its key promises, particularly in electricity supply, economic stability, and citizens’ welfare.

He noted that power supply has worsened, with some parts of the country receiving only a few hours of electricity daily, while others experience prolonged blackouts.

“Ordinarily, having made such a promise and fared woefully, an honest president should simply step down and not seek re-election,” Aregbesola added, accusing the government of attempting to retain power “at all costs.”

On the economy, he dismissed claims of improvement, pointing to the depreciation of the naira and rising fuel prices. According to him, the exchange rate has weakened significantly since 2023, while petrol prices have surged nationwide, worsening the cost of living.

He also highlighted rising transportation costs, noting that many Nigerians now struggle to commute to work, further deepening economic hardship.

Aregbesola criticised the government’s handling of insecurity, accusing it of lacking empathy and failing to adequately protect lives and property. He further raised concerns about the education sector, citing an increase in out-of-school children and a rise in extreme poverty levels.

Positioning the ADC as a credible alternative, he called on Nigerians to rally behind the party.

“The country is drifting, and we cannot allow this continued drift into hopelessness. The ADC is on a rescue mission to reclaim the country,” he said.

He urged citizens to take a decisive stand, warning that neutrality in the current political climate amounts to complicity.