By Obinna Uballa
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has decried what it described as a coordinated campaign of intimidation against its national secretary and former Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.
In a statement on Monday, the party’s spokesman, Bolaji Abdullahi, said it was “incredible” that loyalists of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu were allegedly attempting to mobilise Yoruba people against Aregbesola simply because he chose to exercise his democratic right by leaving the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the ADC.
“This is sheer perfidy and should be condemned,” Abdullahi declared.
The ADC noted that casting Aregbesola as a traitor to Yoruba interests for joining the opposition was both dangerous and undemocratic. The statement came days after the party’s rally in Sagamu, Ogun State, was disrupted on August 14. Aregbesola was billed to lead the campaign for ADC’s House of Representatives candidate, Solomon Osho, at the event.
Meanwhile, Aregbesola’s loyalists have alleged a plot to eliminate him, raising concerns about his safety.
Abdullahi argued that it was hypocritical to demonise Aregbesola for his choices when Tinubu himself once fiercely opposed former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration without being branded a betrayer of Yoruba interests.
“No one challenged Obasanjo and his Federal Government more vociferously than BAT, who almost made Lagos State an alternative source of power—rightly so,” Abdullahi said. “Yet, no one accused BAT of treachery against the Yoruba race, even when he antagonised Afenifere, the Yoruba socio-cultural group.”
The ADC spokesman stressed that President Tinubu should not be equated with the entire South West, warning against a political culture that equates loyalty to a leader with loyalty to an ethnic group.
“We therefore have strong doubts that Asiwaju would approve of what is being done in his name today,” Abdullahi noted. “Attempts to demonise Aregbesola and other Yoruba leaders in the opposition are undemocratic and disgraceful. They are also inimical to the long-term political interests of the Yoruba people. President BAT is not the South West, and the South West is not him.”
He alleged that fear of Aregbesola’s enduring influence was driving the smear campaign, citing reports that even activist Sunday Igboho was being recruited into the effort.
“The narrative they are creating is that tribal and personal loyalty is more important to the Yoruba than the national interest. This is wrong and dangerous,” he warned.
While insisting that Aregbesola is capable of defending himself politically, the ADC said it would not stand by while democratic freedoms are undermined.
“Ogbeni Aregbesola is immensely capable of fighting his own battles. But as a party, we condemn this act of intolerance and assault on freedom. It must cease immediately,” Abdullahi stated.
