Former Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, has alleged the existence of a more dangerous and sophisticated cabal operating within President Bola Tinubu’s government compared to the one during former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
Dalung made this assertion during a conversation with journalist Seun Okinbaloye on the podcast *Mic On*.
In Nigerian political parlance, a “cabal” refers to a group of influential individuals within a government who manipulate decisions, often excluding the leader from critical realities. According to Dalung, the cabal in Tinubu’s administration is composed of experienced, well-informed individuals who have wielded power for years, making them more strategic and formidable than their predecessors in Buhari’s presidency.
“Cabal exists in Nigeria’s presidency till today. Tinubu has the most sophisticated cabal, worse than Buhari’s,” Dalung claimed.
He added, “Buhari’s cabal was a group of uninformed people with little experience. That was why they were dipping their hands in everything that was available. But Tinubu’s cabal is a sophisticated group of people who have been long in power, they know power, and they are also informed. So, they are more dangerous than any other cabal that I’ve ever known and seen.”
Dalung explained that these cabals often keep the President isolated, shielding him from pressing realities while blocking access to individuals attempting to inform him about critical issues. He recalled an instance during Buhari’s administration when information he provided about the nation’s insecurity had not reached the President due to interference by such individuals.
Read also: Tinubu approves new service terms for Nigerian Armed Forces
“These people ensure the President remains out of the loop and prevent him from seeing the actual state of things,” he stated.
Despite the potential risks of making such allegations, Dalung expressed no fear of repercussions, revealing that he has survived multiple attempts on his life.
“I am not afraid of death. I have survived ten assassination attempts. I believe that I will die when my time has come,” he said.
Dalung’s comments shed light on the persistent influence of power blocs within Nigerian presidencies and the impact they have on governance and decision-making.
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