Former Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, has sent a stark warning to the presidency, stating that worsening insecurity and severe economic hardship across Nigeria could tank President Bola Tinubu’s chances of winning a second term if things don’t change fast.
Dalung dropped these truths while speaking with broadcast journalist Seun Okinbaloye, pointing out that a massive wave of frustration is sweeping through the country as ordinary citizens buckle under the weight of rising violence, joblessness, and a crashing economy.
The former minister made it clear that when the next election cycle comes around, voters are not going to forget these daily struggles, and they will likely hold the government accountable at the ballot box.
“The main offense that Tinubu would have said to have committed in the eyes of voters would be insecurity,” he said.
Dalung didn’t stop at security; he also hit hard on the government’s handling of the nation’s finances, emphasizing that widespread poverty and allegations of fiscal recklessness are deeply damaging how the public views the current administration.
“Insecurity, untold hardship, mismanagement of the economy, corruption, unemployment,” he said.
Taking his critique a step further, Dalung argued that the highly praised economic reforms introduced over the last few years have completely failed to trickle down to the masses, leaving everyday Nigerians behind while those in power thrive.
“The only people from 2023 to now that have been transformed are Tinubu and people in his government,” he said.
He stressed that this imbalance has created deep-seated anger among the populace, who find themselves constantly struggling just to survive the harsh economic climate.
The former minister also sounded the alarm over bubbling tensions in the Southwest—traditionally a political stronghold for the president—warning that the government is playing with fire if it continues to look the other way.
“Have you ever imagined what is happening in the Southwest? Where in Ibadan… you could hear women coming out shouting ‘ole, ole,’” he said.
“Those things happening in Ibadan, government should not ignore it. Because it is going to take us through the same political path we have been in our history,” he cautioned.
