The All Progressives Congress (APC) has strongly rejected the accusations made by Solomon Dalung, a former Minister of Youth and Sports Development, who alleged that a powerful cabal has taken control of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
In a statement, the National Secretary of the APC, Ajibola Basiru, dismissed Dalung’s credibility, questioning his past performance as a minister. “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 said, further criticising the former minister for lacking substance in his claims.
Dalung, during an interview with The PUNCH, expressed that he had anticipated the rise of a powerful cabal even before Tinubu’s inauguration on May 29, 2023. He claimed that from the moment he met Tinubu during his presidential campaign, he foresaw the situation the country finds itself in today. “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 went on to explain how he had warned Yoruba elders just days before the inauguration that Tinubu’s government had already been overtaken by a sophisticated group of insiders. “They accused me of harbouring hatred toward him, but I was simply telling the truth,” Dalung added.
Dalung’s assertions included the claim that the decision to remove fuel subsidies on inauguration day was indicative of a lack of control by the president. He highlighted that with no cabinet in place and only the President and Vice President in office, a major economic policy was announced, leading to significant rises in fuel prices and living costs.
“The removal of subsidy triggered a chain reaction: fuel prices soared, the cost of living skyrocketed, transportation, school fees—everything became more expensive,” Dalung remarked, drawing a parallel between the present and the hardships faced during former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
Comparing the two administrations, Dalung argued that while Buhari’s cabal was composed of inexperienced individuals, Tinubu’s cabal was far more dangerous due to its experienced and manipulative members. “Buhari’s cabal was made up of inexperienced people. Many of them had no idea how to run a government. Tinubu’s cabal, on the other hand, is filled with experienced, cunning, and highly ambitious individuals. They are manipulative and far more sophisticated,” he said.
In response, Ajibola Basiru rejected the theory of a cabal entirely. He pointed out that the presence of democratic structures such as the National Assembly made the concept of a cabal unlikely. “What cabal is he talking about when the National Assembly is there? His analysis is not only lazy but also devoid of substance. It’s hard to dignify such ignorance with a serious response,” Basiru said.
Basiru further suggested that Dalung and others like him were still unable to recover from their defeat in the 2023 elections. “People like him are still traumatised by the outcome of the last election. No matter what the administration does, they remain blind to the progress being made. They are determined to see nothing work, even when the evidence is clear,” Basiru concluded.
He reiterated the APC’s commitment to staying focused on governance, despite the criticisms. “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,” he said.