Renewed Hope Is A Scam, Says Rauf Aregbesola
A former Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, has launched a scathing attack on the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, describing the government’s “Renewed Hope” agenda as a “scam” amid worsening economic hardship and insecurity across the country.
Aregbesola, a founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former governor of Osun State, made the remarks during a recent public engagement, where he expressed deep concern over what he described as the failure of the current administration to deliver meaningful relief to Nigerians.
According to him, the economic situation has deteriorated significantly under Tinubu’s leadership, with rising inflation, a weakening naira, and increasing cost of living placing severe strain on citizens. He argued that the government’s policy direction lacks coherence and has failed to address the immediate needs of the population.
The former minister also cited the persistent security challenges across various parts of the country, noting that incidents of banditry, kidnapping, and violent attacks continue to undermine public confidence in the government. He maintained that the inability of the administration to effectively tackle insecurity further weakens its credibility.
In a strongly worded critique, Aregbesola called on President Tinubu to take responsibility for what he described as governance failures, including considering resignation if the situation does not improve. His comments mark one of the most direct criticisms yet from a former ally within the ruling political circle.
The remarks are likely to deepen existing divisions within the APC, where internal disagreements have increasingly come to the fore since the 2023 general elections. Political observers say Aregbesola’s stance reflects broader dissatisfaction among some party stakeholders over the direction of the administration.
While the presidency has yet to formally respond to the comments, supporters of the government argue that ongoing reforms—particularly in the areas of fuel subsidy removal and foreign exchange policy—are necessary but painful steps aimed at stabilising the economy in the long term.
The “Renewed Hope” agenda remains a central policy framework of the Tinubu administration, but criticisms such as Aregbesola’s underscore the growing public debate over its impact and effectiveness.
