Presidency has taken a strong stance against former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, accusing him of betrayal and ingratitude towards President Bola Ahmed Tinubu — the political figure widely credited for his rise to prominence.
Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, voiced the administration’s disapproval, describing Aregbesola’s recent alignment with the opposition as a shameful act of disloyalty. Onanuga recalled how Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, then Governor of Lagos State, discovered Aregbesola in 1999 as a struggling party loyalist and appointed him as a commissioner.
Years later, Tinubu played a pivotal role in Aregbesola’s successful bid to become Governor of Osun State — a position he held from 2010 to 2018.
“This is the same Aregbesola that Tinubu raised from political obscurity,” Onanuga stated. “Now that Tinubu is president, should a man like Aregbesola be part of a conspiracy to undermine him? Aregbesola is a religious man. He should understand that no one repays good with evil and expects to escape the consequences.”
Currently, Aregbesola serves as the interim National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) following his defection from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in early 2025.
IREPORT247NEWS reported that the ADC is forming a formidable coalition composed of high-profile politicians, with the explicit goal of removing President Tinubu from office in the 2027 general elections. At the helm of this political front is former Senate President David Mark, who has been appointed as the coalition’s leader. Rauf Aregbesola, a central figure in the movement, has been named Secretary of the alliance.
In a letter accepting his new role, Aregbesola expressed deep dissatisfaction with the current political climate in Nigeria. He lamented that the nation’s democratic structure has deteriorated into a platform for political opportunism, dominated by parties lacking ideological depth or a sincere commitment to public service.
“The Nigerian political system today is a playground for ambition-driven actors,” Aregbesola wrote. “Most parties are nothing but hollow entities, frequently merging or splitting—not on the basis of ideology or national interest—but in pursuit of raw power and personal gain.”
However, the Presidency appears unfazed by the opposition’s efforts. Onanuga dismissed the coalition as a disjointed alliance of disgruntled politicians seeking a return to relevance. He cited Aregbesola’s expulsion from the APC over anti-party activities during the last Osun State election as evidence of his political descent.
“This so-called alliance has no direction or purpose other than to oppose President Tinubu,” Onanuga said. “It is not driven by policy, vision, or patriotism, but by resentment. A political formation built solely on hatred cannot move Nigeria forward.”
He added, “These are not patriots. They are political desperados motivated by selfish interests, not by any genuine desire to serve Nigerians or solve the country’s challenges.”
As the 2027 elections draw nearer, the emerging political battle lines continue to reflect deeper rifts within Nigeria’s political class. Observers suggest that the unfolding drama may reshape alliances and test loyalties across the nation’s political spectrum.