Former Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, has shed light on the shadowy influence of cabals in Nigerian governance, revealing how a powerful group seized control of the presidency following Muhammadu Buhari’s 2015 election victory.
Speaking on the Mic On podcast published on Sunday, Dalung described a cabal as “a group of ambitious people, appointed by the president to help govern, but who instead run the presidency in their own interest.”
Dalung recounted how, shortly after Buhari’s triumph, a powerful faction emerged, sidelining those who had worked tirelessly during the campaign.
“On the evening of the president’s declaration as winner, I was with him in his office. By the next day, I was blocked from entering his house—a place where I had been the night before until 2 a.m.,” he said.
Dalung said the incident marked the cabal’s ascendancy. “From that day, the cabal had taken over,” he added.
He lamented that those who genuinely campaigned for Buhari “went celebrating” and left the president unprotected, enabling the group to consolidate power.
“These people, who understood the dynamics of power, took over and ran the government for their own interests until eight years had passed,” Dalung stated.
When asked about the current administration under President Bola Tinubu, Dalung hinted that cabal-like dynamics persist but with a more sophisticated structure.
“It is the same APC we formed, but it’s now more complex—a political architecture resembling a zoo,” he remarked.
Addressing claims that Buhari’s government was dominated by Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) loyalists, Dalung refuted the suggestion, stating that key CPC figures like Tanko Al-Makura were sidelined.
“The CPC did not succeed in forming a cabal. The government was hijacked by non-politicians, like bandits who laid an ambush immediately after Buhari’s victory,” he said, adding that this group has since amassed vast wealth and influence.
Dalung warned Nigerians to remain vigilant. “These individuals are extremely powerful and wealthy. Nigerians should expect to encounter them again,” he cautioned.
Despite these revelations, Dalung said he harbors no fear of retribution, sharing that he has survived more than 10 assassination attempts over his four-decade career.
“There was a time five people with AK-47s sprayed my car with bullets. I’m still here. My mother always said I won’t leave this planet until the day ordained by God,” Dalung declared.
He detailed ambushes and attempts to poison his food but affirmed his resilience. “I’m not afraid of death,” he concluded.
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