‘Bye bye to jaga jaga’ — Aregbesola says ADC will end godfatherism, money politics

Rauf Aregbesola, national secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), says the party will dismantle godfatherism, moneybags and political wheeler-dealing in the nation’s politics.

Speaking on Sunday at a meeting organised by the Conscience Forum where he welcomed some members into the party, Aregbesola, a former ally of President Bola Tinubu, said the ADC has been “divinely ordained” to liberate the people.

“ADC is not like any party in Nigeria. People think it is just like any other party in Nigeria,” he said.

“When any of you [party members] is interviewed as from today, and they ask you what the ideology of the ADC is? The ideology of the ADC is a people-friendly government.

“This is the most distinct commitment of the party to serving the people.”

Aregbesola said the ADC is people-centric, adding that it is what distinguishes it from other parties.

“No party in Nigeria has anything like this in its constitution. Whenever anybody talks about ideology, tell them that ADC is a party God has ordained for the liberation of Nigeria,” he said. 

Citing the ADC constitution, Aregbesola said the party positions itself as a vehicle for ordinary Nigerians, including workers, artisans and the broader masses.

“The ideology of ADC is a people-friendly government. The most distinct commitment of the party is serving the people. No other party in Nigeria has this in its constitution,” he said.

Quoting article 7 of the party’s constitution, the former minister of interior and ex-Osun governor noted that the ADC is determined to re-engineer Nigeria’s political system to resist domination by “wheeler-dealer political elites, moneybags and godfathers”.

“You know them, and I also know them. Bye-bye to jaga jaga. Bye-bye to all of them.”

“Jaga” is interpreted as a veiled snide at President Bola Tinubu, who traditional title is “Jagaban Borgu”.

In July, opposition politicians and some ADC leaders adopted the party as the coalition platform for the 2027 elections.

Last week, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recognised the new national working committee (NWC) of the party led by David Mark, former senate president.