Victor EzejaA former Minister of Youths and Sports, Solomon Dalung, has criticized the President Bola Tinubu-led government for making policies that have created economic hardship for the citizens since its inception.
He said that the government came up with the policies of petrol subsidy removal (which pushed up the inflation rate as the price of petrol skyrocketed), and floating of the naira, without putting adequate measures on the ground to cushion the effects on the citizens.
Dalung, who appeared on Channels Television’s ‘Sunrise Daily’ on Tuesday morning, said it is unacceptable that government officials would ask the citizens to make sacrifices, which is alright as the country lives through the hard times, but they fail to lead by example.
“When you demand sacrifice, it is exemplary, it should begin with you the leader, and then people would follow. The reverse cannot be the case. The policies we are dealing with are inhuman policies that are affecting the citizens terribly. In recent times, Nigerians have not faced a terrible situation like the one we are dealing with currently.
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“The policies of this current government from May 29, have not been favourable to the people. The cost of governance is increasing while the people are being asked to make sacrifices,’ Dalung stated.
Recall that Dalung served as a cabinet minister between 2015 and 2019 in the first term of former President Muhammadu Buhari and thereafter left the ruling All Progressives Congress. He later ran for a seat in the House of Representatives under the Social Democratic Party but lost to Beni Lar of the Peoples Democratic Party.
When reminded that the government of President Tinubu is a continuation of Buhari’s administration which he served in, Dalung asserted that his former boss had in 2015 promised to fight corruption but corruption appeared to have overwhelmed him as indicated in various reports.
He said corrupt activities are clearly known and the consequences to the nation but the political will to stamp them out is lacking among political leaders.
“Even now (referring to Tinubu’s government), I don’t see the political will to deal with corruption. There are people currently holding positions in government who are guests of EFCC. The act of recycling people with cases of corruption hanging on their neck is a clear definition of the lack of political will to deal with corruption,” the Dalung added.
The ex-sports minister claimed that “corruption is standing even taller” in this current government.
He said Buhari failed to fulfill three of his promises to Nigerians which include, tackling insecurity, corruption, and the economy.
He claimed that the majority of people Buhari trusted and brought into positions of authority betrayed him by not doing the right thing.
Dalung further accused the Tinubu government of having a cabal, adding that it accounted for the fact that Dr. Maryam Shettima, also known as Shetty, from Kano State was rejected as a ministerial nominee.
Recall Shetty’s name was withdrawn and replaced with Mariya Mahmoud in the ministerial nominees’ list submitted to the Senate.
The minister asserted that a cabal exists in every government and it was the same group of individuals that made sure he would not reappear as a minister since his speech was deemed “toxic.”
“Even now, there is a cabal in Tinubu’s government, and they will always exist. They are a group of ambitious people with different ambitions within the power base set to hijack power and protect their interests.
“How would a ministerial nominee from Kano State find her name in the list and was told that she isn’t on the list upon confirmation?”
Asked if he would like to serve under President Bola Tinubu, Dalung said, “On the condition that they would not padlock this mouth.”
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
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