The All Progressives Congress (APC) has rejected former Minister of Youth and Sports Development Solomon Dalung’s allegation that a powerful cabal controls President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
APC National Secretary Ajibola Basiru dismissed Dalung’s claims, questioning his credibility and record as a former minister.
“Who is Dalung? What was his performance like during his tenure? He clearly lacks the intellectual capacity to engage in serious governance issues,” Basiru said.
Dalung, in an interview with The PUNCH, had alleged that the President’s government was hijacked by a sophisticated cabal even before Tinubu’s inauguration on May 29, 2023.
“From the time I met Tinubu as an aspirant until his election, I anticipated the current situation,” Dalung stated.
He claimed that days before the inauguration, he warned Yoruba elders that the administration had already been taken over by a cabal.
Though accused of bias, he maintained he was speaking the truth.
Dalung pointed to the removal of the fuel subsidy on inauguration day—despite the absence of a cabinet—as evidence of the cabal’s influence.
“That decision alone sparked a chain reaction—fuel prices surged, leading to increased costs of living, transportation, and education,” he said.
He compared himself to the biblical prophet Jeremiah, lamenting the hardships now faced by Nigerians.
Dalung also drew comparisons to former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, suggesting Tinubu’s cabal is more dangerous due to the experience and ambition of its members.
In response, Basiru questioned the cabal theory’s logic, noting that democratic institutions like the National Assembly remain active and functional.
“What cabal is he referring to when our democratic structures are in place? His analysis lacks substance and cannot be taken seriously,” Basiru said.
He accused Dalung and similar critics of being unable to accept the outcome of the 2023 election and of spreading unfounded allegations to undermine the government.
“Despite the progress being made, these critics refuse to acknowledge it.
They are determined to see failure where there is none,” Basiru added.
He concluded by affirming the government’s focus on delivering results, emphasizing that “those dissatisfied should wait for the next election to express their views.”