By John Ogunsemore
Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga has taken a swipe at coalition politicians, describing them as “desperados” who hijacked the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for personal benefit.
Onanuga said this in a Facebook post late Wednesday, hours after the opposition figures officially unveiled the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as their new political platform to challenge President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.
The presidential aide said the coalition politicians “hijacked” the ADC because they are hungry for power to benefit themselves and not Nigerians.
He predicted the disintegration of the group due to “their irreconcilable personal and political ambitions”.
He said, “Some members of the hijacked ADC, who were reported as members of the APC, left the APC years and months ago.
“Let the public not be deceived by the opposition’s narrative about their relevance or whether the APC will mourn their departure.
“Rotimi Amaechi’s soul left the APC in 2022 after losing the presidential primary to President Tinubu.
“Abubakar Malami, the former Attorney-General, has never hidden his estrangement from the APC since Tinubu assumed leadership and since he lost the governorship bid in Kebbi.
“Hadi Sirika, now with the ADC, is facing trial for contract splitting and other allegations.
“The renegade Rauf Aregbesola committed anti-party in the last Osun election and was expelled as an unfit APC member
“Kashim Imam and the octogenarian Chief John Odigie Oyegun are among the disgruntled politicians posturing as would-be saviours of Nigeria. Imam abandoned the APC after failing to secure the vice-presidential ticket in 2022. Chief Oyegun, a former party chairman, also lost interest in the APC and has been a foundational member of this coalition since its inception.”
Onanuga advised to be watchful, noting that “a political party with no clear agenda or ideology – whose members are united only by their hatred for President Tinubu – cannot be good for our country”.
He added, “These politicians are desperados, hungry for power, not for the benefit of Nigerians but for themselves. They want power at all costs because they cannot endure another four years in the political wilderness or be banished to political winter and irrelevance.
“What is certain is that the group will soon unravel due to their irreconcilable personal and political ambitions.”