- By Halimah Olamide
Former Minister of Sports under President Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung, on Tuesday said President Bola Tinubu has failed to lift up to the expectations of Nigerians.
Dalung who sounded like mocking Tinubu by saying that after the president succeeded in grabbing power, he cannot run with it but he is stuck with it, asked Tinubu to recreate what he called his “Lagos miracles.”
He said Tinubu has snatched power but has not been able to do anything tangible with it.
He was making a reference to one of Tinubu’s sayings in the past where he said those looking for power must fight for it and grab it and after grabbing it, must run with it.
“Leadership of Nigeria is beyond personal ambitions or sense of entitlement, when you “grab power”, you will be stuck and “cannot run away with it”, that is the current situation of Nigeria. Ethnic chauvinists and religious bigots can only rants while the situations degenerates,” Dalung said in a series of tweet on Tuesday.
The former minister said Tinubu has been blaming the past administration as well as PDP governors adding that the president must face the task of fixing Nigeria.
“Blaming opposition parties for the protests is trivialising the developing social storm. What is the language of poverty or what is the religion of hunger? Is there different markets or food prices for APC members? Is there cost of transportation for Yoruba, Ibo fulani or hausa?” he said
Dalung advised Tinubu to take another look at those surrounding him with a view to getting proper advice.
“Whatever economic policies of Tinubu sugar-coated by the queens English intellectuals surrounding him has failed to address the Nigeria’s economic challenges. The president should reverse himself to pave the way for homegrown economic theories with practical solutions,: he added
Accusing the Tinubu administration of corruption, Dalung said presidential spokesmen should address Nigerians how much has been generated as a result of subsidy removal.
“Abacha as maximum ruler was more transparent in subsidy regime administration, he established PTF to manage the proceeds of subsidy. I challenge Bayo Onanuga and Daniel Bwala to address join press conferences and tell Nigerians how much has so far accrued to FA since May 29, 2023?, the former minister said