Former Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Solomon Dalung, has stirred controversy with bold claims about President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Dalung alleged that Tinubu’s presidency is controlled by a cabal more dangerous and sophisticated than that of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
He made this revelation during an interview on Sunday with Seun Okinbaloye on the Mic On Podcast.
According to Dalung, Buhari’s cabal consisted of individuals with limited knowledge and political experience.
However, he described Tinubu’s cabal as a well-informed group with extensive expertise in wielding power.
“Tinubu’s cabal is a more sophisticated group of people who have been in power for a long time,” Dalung said.
“They know power, they are informed, and so they are more dangerous than any other cabal I have ever known or seen.”
Dalung warned that the power dynamics within Tinubu’s administration are a cause for concern.
He explained that this group strategically manipulates governance and influences decisions at the highest level.
“There is a cabal in Tinubu’s government, and they are more dangerous because they are more sophisticated,” Dalung added.
Who Are the Cabal?
Dalung did not shy away when asked to define this so-called cabal.
“They are the gatekeepers of the president,” he said.
“These are individuals found very close to the seat of power. They control access to the president and prevent governance from flowing naturally.”
He recounted a troubling incident during Buhari’s tenure as an example of how cabals operate.
“There was a time someone went to see the president to brief him about the situation in the country,” Dalung revealed.
“An officer stopped him and asked, ‘What will you be telling the president?’ When he hesitated, the officer said, ‘We can’t allow you to tell the president that. What if he collapses?’ That man was prevented from speaking to the president.”
Dalung suggested that a similar pattern is unfolding under Tinubu.
He accused the cabal of shielding the president from critical information and reality.
Dalung also criticized the current state of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“If you look at what is going on right now, one would imagine that the Buhari government has gone, and now it’s the Tinubu government,” he said.
“But is it the same APC that left, or is it a different APC? It’s the same APC we formed, but it’s now more sophisticated than before.”
The former minister claimed that the party has transformed into a complex political entity.
“I have seen many ‘born-again’ politicians from all other political interests,” he noted.
“They have now metamorphosed into this party. It’s a very complex political architecture—a zoo, in a way.”
Dalung’s statements raise concerns about transparency and accountability in Tinubu’s government.
He argued that cabals often prioritize their personal ambitions over national interest.
“A cabal is a group of ambitious people appointed by the president to help him govern,” Dalung explained.
“But they end up running his presidency at their own expense and interest.”
His warning comes at a time when Nigerians are grappling with economic and political uncertainty.
Critics say his remarks should spark a deeper conversation about governance and the role of power brokers in the country.
