Political commentator and former presidential aide, Reno Omokri, has strongly criticised the newly unveiled African Democratic Congress (ADC) Coalition, questioning the credibility and intentions behind the alliance.
He described the group as a relic of the military era, carrying a “Telephone Is Not for the Poor” mindset—a reference to elitist policies of the past.
The ADC Coalition was officially unveiled at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, marking a significant restructuring within the party. The event was attended by key political figures, and symbolised the party’s readiness to position itself as a major contender in the 2027 general elections.
During the unveiling, Ralph Nwosu, the party’s founder and pioneer National Chairman, announced a voluntary transition in leadership to pave the way for a new direction. In this restructuring, former Senate President David Mark was named Chairman of the coalition, while former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola was appointed Secretary.
Reacting to the announcement, Omokri expressed disappointment, stating that the leadership composition lacked youthful representation and fresh thinking.
“David Mark is 77, and Rauf Aregbesola is 68. Can any young Nigerian genuinely believe in a party led by such gerontocrats?” Omokri asked. “This is the same David Mark whose infamous statement, ‘Telephones are not for the poor’, became a symbol of elite indifference. And Aregbesola? He plunged Osun State into religious tension by compelling Christian missionary schools to merge with others they had no affiliation with.”
Omokri further alleged that the coalition’s motive is not rooted in the desire to serve Nigerians or uplift the masses but is driven solely by the ambition to unseat President Bola Tinubu.
“They have made it clear — this coalition is not about reducing poverty, tackling insecurity, or making life better for ordinary Nigerians. It’s purely an anti-Tinubu alliance with the singular mission of regaining political power,” he argued.
According to Omokri, the coalition’s agenda is to reverse recent reforms, including the removal of the fuel subsidy — a move that, though initially unpopular, has boosted Nigeria’s macroeconomic indicators.
“They want to restore the fuel subsidy that only enriched the elite and left the poor behind. They’re furious that Nigeria is no longer Africa’s biggest importer of refined petrol but has now emerged as West Africa’s largest exporter. With no more easy money in the system, they’ve united to fight a common enemy — progress.”
Highlighting achievements of the Tinubu administration, Omokri listed several milestones:
- Our national debt has reduced from $108.2 billion on May 29, 2023, to $94.2 billion today. In Nigeria’s history, only two civilian governments have been able to reduce the nation’s indebtedness: the Obasanjo administration and now the Tinubu government.
- Local Government Autonomy
- Tax Reform
- Due to the removal of fuel subsidies, each state now gets more than double the federal allocation it received under Buhari. As a result, Nigerian states’ indebtedness has reduced, with 33 out of 36 states and the FCT collectively repaying about ₦1.85 trillion in domestic debt between June 2023 and December 2024.
- Due to the floating of the naira, our foreign reserve hit a year-to-date high of $40.877 billion. That is up from the $3.7 billion inherited from General Buhari.
- ASUU has not even dreamt of striking under Tinubu? This is the first time since President Shagari’s era that Nigeria has had two years without an ASUU strike.
- Six hundred thousand students are benefiting from the Tinubu administration’s student loan initiative. These are young Nigerians who may not have had a university education but for Tinubu.
- On July 29, 2024, President Tinubu signed the New Minimum Wage Bill into law and now Nigerian workers earn a ₦70,000 minimum wage, more than double the previous minimum wage.
- Nigeria achieved a record-breaking trade surplus of $14.31 billion in 2024 because, under Tinubu, unlike in the past, we now export more than we import due to the Naira flotation, making made-in-Nigeria more affordable than imports.
- The Tinubu administration is building the largest infrastructural projects in Nigeria’s history, including the Lagos Calabar Coastal Highway, starting from Calabar and Lagos simultaneously.This will reduce travel times between the Southwest and South-South by 25-30% and increase our GDP by 6-8%. Also, the Ilela-Sokoto-Badagry Expressway is ongoing, and the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway is being reconstructed. Under Tinubu, Nigeria is a beehive of projects.
Omokri warned Nigerians not to be swayed by the ambitions of what he called “disgruntled veterans” seeking to return to power under outdated ideologies.
“Do we really want to throw away these gains just because a group of old politicians feel left out? Their coalition is not a pro-people movement. It’s an elite reunion, fueled by resentment and nostalgia.”
He concluded with a call for continued support of Tinubu’s administration, insisting that sustained political stability under Tinubu’s eight-year tenure would ultimately lead Nigeria into a period of lasting economic prosperity.
“Let him finish his eight years. Afterwards, power can return to the North. This rotation ensures national stability and unity — the foundation for real development,” Omokri said.