APC has blasted Dalung over cabal allegations and defended Tinubu’s Government.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that the All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed allegations by former Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Solomon Dalung, who claimed that President Bola Tinubu’s administration has been hijacked by a powerful cabal.
Reacting on Sunday, APC National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, described Dalung as lacking both credibility and intellectual depth to speak on governance matters.
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“Who is Dalung? What was his scorecard when he served as a minister? He clearly lacks the intellectual depth to engage in matters of governance,” Basiru stated.
Dalung, in an interview with The PUNCH, alleged that President Tinubu had lost control of his administration even before his May 29, 2023 inauguration. He claimed to have warned Yoruba elders of a “sophisticated cabal” already surrounding the president.
“From the time I met Tinubu as an aspirant to the moment he was elected, I knew we would end up exactly where we are today,” Dalung said.
He pointed to the immediate removal of fuel subsidies on inauguration day—despite not having a cabinet in place—as a sign of the cabal’s influence.
“That decision alone triggered a chain reaction: fuel prices soared, the cost of living skyrocketed, transportation, school fees—everything became more expensive,” he said.
Comparing the current administration to that of former President Muhammadu Buhari, Dalung claimed Tinubu’s circle of power was more dangerous.
“Buhari’s cabal was made up of inexperienced people. Tinubu’s cabal is filled with experienced, cunning, and highly ambitious individuals. They are manipulative and far more sophisticated,” he alleged.
Dalung likened himself to the biblical prophet Jeremiah, saying he foresaw the suffering and now lives through the consequences.
In his response, Basiru rejected the claims, arguing that Nigeria’s democratic institutions remain active and functioning.
“What cabal is he talking about when the National Assembly is there? His analysis is not only lazy but also devoid of substance,” Basiru said.
He accused Dalung and others of being stuck in post-election bitterness and blind to the administration’s achievements.
“People like him are still traumatised by the outcome of the last election. No matter what the administration does, they are determined to see nothing work,” he added.
Basiru concluded by affirming the government’s focus: “As Mr President has made clear, we will not be distracted by armchair critics. Those who are dissatisfied should meet us at the ballot box.”
