Rauf Aregbesola, former Minister of Interior and interim National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has urged his growing base of supporters to shun political brawls and instead arm themselves with facts in their quest for national transformation.
Addressing ADC faithful in Lagos after a rousing welcome on Friday, the ex-Osun governor made it clear that the party’s mission is not to trade insults, but to offer a superior argument rooted in the painful realities Nigerians are living through.
“There is no need to fight or insult anyone,” Aregbesola said in a post on X (formerly Twitter). “When others hurl abuse, we must take the high road. Just ask this simple question: Are Nigerians better off today than they were before?”
The former APC stalwart encouraged supporters to focus their energy on public enlightenment, urging them to challenge political opponents with indisputable evidence of economic decline, rampant inflation, insecurity, and worsening poverty.
“Speak confidently and clearly,” he said. “Use the facts—about food prices, joblessness, and the cost of living. Let the truth be our strategy.”
Aregbesola’s return to the political frontline through the ADC marks a defining moment in opposition politics. Once a close ally of President Bola Tinubu, the split between both men became public in 2022 after Aregbesola’s faction refused to support Tinubu’s nephew, then-Governor Gboyega Oyetola, during his re-election bid in Osun. Instead, they rallied behind PDP’s Ademola Adeleke, who eventually won the election.
That political breakaway now seems to have matured into a full ideological shift. The ADC, which has emerged as a hub for disaffected politicians and new-generation activists, is positioning itself as the platform for a fresh national consensus. Aregbesola’s message reflects this repositioning—a strategy based not on personality cults but on policy-based critique.
With his ‘Omoluabi’ political structure folding into the ADC’s expanding network, observers say Aregbesola is preparing to play a leading role in the 2027 political contest, potentially reshaping opposition politics with a movement rooted in discipline, message clarity, and civic engagement.
“We must be the example,” he concluded. “A people-oriented movement that uses reason over rage.”
As the political temperature rises across the country, Aregbesola’s call may signal a shift from mudslinging to meaningful debate—a posture that may well define the ADC’s appeal in the months ahead.
