In a shocking revelation, Barrister Solomon Dalung, the former Minister of Youth and Sports, has confessed that the previous Muhammadu Buhari administration deceived the Nigerian public during its eight-year tenure.
Dalung made these statements during an interview on the ‘Mic On Podcast’ hosted by Seun Okinboloye on Sunday. As a former member of the Federal Executive Council from 2015 to 2019, he expressed his deep disappointment, stating that the administration betrayed the trust of the Nigerian people.
“I am completely disappointed because what we told Nigerians was not what happened. We lied; we deceived Nigerians,” Dalung admitted, reflecting on the administration’s campaign strategy that criticized the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for similar betrayals.
He further claimed that political elites used Buhari to achieve their own objectives, describing him as a “stranger in his own government.” Dalung noted that once Buhari assumed power, political elites quickly took control, distancing him from the administration’s operations.
Dalung recalled confronting Buhari in 2020 regarding the deteriorating security situation in the country, which had expanded beyond the North-East. He challenged Buhari to travel with him to demonstrate the severity of the situation, revealing that the president seemed unaware of many critical issues facing the nation.
He recounted a specific incident where the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) clashed in Abuja, holding the community hostage for three days without Buhari’s knowledge. Dalung had to bring this to the president’s attention during a Federal Executive Council meeting, leaving Buhari visibly upset.
Dalung attributed the administration’s challenges to a cabal surrounding Buhari, including the National Security Adviser and other officials, who failed to keep him informed about important developments.
When asked if the Buhari administration was hijacked during his tenure, Dalung affirmed this, suggesting that Buhari’s integrity was exploited for political gain. His comments have sparked widespread reactions and provided new insights into the inner workings of the Buhari administration.
