Former Youth and Sports Minister Solomon Dalung has claimed that the cabals surrounding President Bola Tinubu are more dangerous than those around former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Speaking as a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Tuesday, Dalung, who served in Buhari’s administration, described the former president as a “stranger” in his own government, with cabals effectively taking over its operations.
Dalung characterised Buhari’s cabals as relatively uneducated and inexperienced in governance, limiting their influence to parochial interests and mismanagement of public resources.
However, he warned that the cabals around Tinubu are highly sophisticated, ambitious, and well-educated, with a deep understanding of power dynamics. He pointed out their ability to manipulate power, build barriers around the president, control access, and filter information to suit their agenda.
“In the Buhari administration, the cabals were known to have limited political and administrative experience, which curbed the extent of their influence. But with President Tinubu, the situation is different. His cabals are seasoned, ambitious, and fully aware of how to exercise and manipulate power,” Dalung said.
President Tinubu, who narrowly won the February 2023 election and was sworn in on May 29, 2023, stated in July 2024 that he was not answerable to any cabal or moneybag.
Dalung, however, dismissed this assertion, stating, “These cabals are masters of the game. They have the capacity to control access to the president, manipulate power structures, and dictate the flow of information. This makes them the most dangerous in the history of this country.”
He expressed concern that their influence could have a more profound impact on Tinubu’s presidency than any previous administration.