The former Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, has shared his thoughts on cabals in the presidency during an interview on Channels Television.

Dalung stated that the cabal surrounding President Bola Tinubu is more powerful and dangerous than those present during former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

He alleged that Tinubu’s cabal consists of highly educated, ambitious, and refined individuals who possess an intricate understanding of power dynamics.

As a result, they are able to manipulate Tinubu’s government and isolate the president. Dalung expressed concern that the influence of Tinubu’s cabal could hinder effective governance, isolate the president, and worsen the plight of ordinary Nigerians.

“They are educated and have a sound knowledge of what power is. Their capacity to manipulate power, stifle information, and control access to the president makes them more dangerous than any cabal in the history of this country.”

Comparing past cabals to the present, Dalung stated that the cabal that operated in Buhari’s tenure was less sophisticated, and composed of individuals with limited political and administrative experience. He argued that while Buhari’s cabal had parochial motives, their lack of strategic depth mitigated their overall influence.

“Of course, President Muhammadu Buhari’s government had a cabal. But they were people who were not quite informed, who had little experience in politics, public administration, and governance. Their activities were limited to their narrow understanding of power relations and self-interest.

“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 using the popular manifesto that was used to gain power.”

Addressing the limited access to Tinubu, Dalung cited Chapter 2 of the Nigerian Constitution, which states that the primary aim of government is to ensure the well-being of its citizens. He questioned whether the current government was living up to this mandate.

“Are Nigerians rejoicing over the policies of this government? Certainly not,” he said. “The common people are frustrated and not speaking well of the government or the country itself.”