Former Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, has raised alarm over the growing influence of a powerful cabal surrounding President Bola Tinubu, claiming it is more formidable and dangerous than the one that operated during former President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure.
Speaking during a televised interview on Tuesday, Dalung described Tinubu’s cabal as a highly educated and ambitious group, deeply familiar with the dynamics of power. He argued that this cabal’s knowledge of governance, combined with their ability to manipulate information and control access to the president, makes them more potent than any political faction in Nigeria’s history.
“These individuals are educated and understand power dynamics,” Dalung stated. “Their capacity to manipulate power, suppress information, and control who gets to see the president makes them more dangerous than any cabal in the history of this country.”
Dalung compared Tinubu’s cabal with Buhari’s, suggesting that while Buhari’s cabal was less sophisticated, lacking the same depth of political and administrative experience, it still posed significant challenges. He contended that while Buhari’s cabal was motivated by narrow self-interest, it did not have the strategic foresight to wield influence on the same scale.
“Of course, President Muhammadu Buhari’s government had a cabal,” Dalung said. “But they were people who were not well-informed and had little experience in politics, public administration, and governance. Their activities were limited to their limited understanding of power relations and their own interests.”
Dalung also criticized those who deny the existence of such cabals in Nigerian governance, claiming that doing so would be unfair to future generations. He stressed the importance of acknowledging the role these groups play in steering national decisions, often undermining the democratic process while advancing their own agenda.
“It would be very, very unfair to posterity to deny the existence of such a dangerous political element that takes over power and pursues ulterior motives under the guise of the popular manifesto that was used to gain power,” he argued.
Assessing Tinubu’s administration more broadly, Dalung expressed concern over the government’s fulfillment of its constitutional duties. Referring to Chapter 2 of the Nigerian Constitution, which emphasizes that the government’s primary aim is to ensure the well-being of its citizens, Dalung questioned whether the current administration was delivering on that promise.
“Are Nigerians rejoicing over the policies of this government? Certainly not,” he said. “The common people are frustrated, and they are not speaking well of the government or the country.”
Dalung’s comments underscore growing discontent about the impact of the alleged cabal on governance and the state of the country under Tinubu’s leadership. He raised concerns that the influence of this powerful group could further isolate the president and hinder efforts to address the worsening conditions faced by ordinary Nigerians.
