Former Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, has urged supporters of the newly formed African Democratic Congress (ADC) to steer clear of insults and personal attacks in their engagements with supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Aregbesola gave the advice on Friday after returning from Abuja to Lagos, days after the official launch of the ADC — a coalition-backed party seeking to challenge the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, under whom Aregbesola once served as Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure in Lagos State.
In a statement shared on his social media handles, the former governor of Osun State thanked ADC supporters who came to welcome him at the airport, describing the journey ahead as a serious one that must be approached with focus and discipline.
“I sincerely thank our supporters and members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) who came out to receive me on my arrival in Lagos. The task before us is immense, and I reminded everyone that we do not need to fight, insult, or attack anyone,” he said.
He advised that instead of trading words, supporters should engage APC members with facts, especially around key issues affecting the country.
“When others resort to abuse or name-calling, we must rise above it. Instead, ask them one simple question: Are Nigerians better off today than they were before? Challenge them with facts — on food inflation, the economy, the rising cost of living, and the deepening poverty affecting millions.”
Aregbesola stressed that debates must be issue-based and reflective of the need for credible alternatives, adding that the ADC offers Nigerians a new path for national development.
“Let our debates remain focused on the issues that matter. Articulate our position clearly and confidently. Explain why our new political home, the ADC, represents a credible and necessary alternative for Nigeria’s progress and long-term sustainability,” he added.
A long-time ally of President Tinubu since 1999, Aregbesola’s political alliance with the president fractured in 2022 during the build-up to the Osun State governorship election, when Tinubu backed the re-election bid of his nephew, Gboyega Oyetola, who had succeeded Aregbesola as governor.
