Why I Had a Closed-Door Meeting with Aregbesola – Lauretta Onochie

Former Special Assistant on Social Media to President Muhammadu Buhari and former Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Lauretta Onochie, has explained the reason behind her recent closed-door meeting with former Minister of Interior and National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Rauf Aregbesola. Onochie, in a post shared on her verified Facebook page on Friday, said the meeting held on Thursday was centered on finding ways to rescue the nation from what she described as its “captives.” “Yesterday, Big Brother and Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, and yours truly had a meeting. It was centred around recovering our nation from her captives. God bless Nigeria. See you again soon,” she wrote. Although Onochie did not reveal specific details of the meeting or its location, she shared photos of herself with Aregbesola, indicating what appeared to be a warm and cordial atmosphere. The meeting has generated political interest, given Onochie’s close ties to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and Aregbesola’s alignment with the opposition. Observers have described the meeting as a potential sign of cross-party collaboration or political realignment ahead of the 2027 general elections. With growing concerns over economic hardship and insecurity in the country, there is increasing speculation that political stakeholders are exploring new alliances and national dialogue. Onochie’s engagement with Aregbesola, a key figure in the Buhari administration and now a top official in the ADC, has further fueled speculation about broader consultations among politicians seeking to influence Nigeria’s future political direction. While Aregbesola has not made a public statement on the meeting, sources close to the ADC indicate that more consultations with prominent figures across party lines are underway, as the party positions itself as a strong alternative in the next electoral cycle