Former Youth and Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung, has described the inner circle of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as more dangerous than the cabal that surrounded former President Muhammadu Buhari.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday, Dalung, who served as a minister during Buhari’s administration, claimed that Buhari was often sidelined in his government, with his cabal wielding substantial influence.

However, Dalung noted a significant difference between the two administrations, stating that while Buhari’s cabal was made up of individuals with limited education and understanding of governance, Tinubu’s inner circle consists of sophisticated, educated, and ambitious powerbrokers with a deep understanding of power dynamics.

“Buhari’s cabals were made up of people who were not quite informed, with little experience in politics, public administration, and governance. Their activities were limited to their parochial view of power and personal gain,” Dalung remarked.

He further warned about the potential impact of Tinubu’s cabal:
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s cabal is made up of sophisticated and ambitious people who have a long history in power. They are experienced, educated, and possess a sound knowledge of what power entails. Their capacity to manipulate power, build security barricades around the president, stifle information flow, and control access to him makes them more dangerous than any cabal in this country’s history.”

Dalung also expressed concerns about the implications of such influence, predicting that Tinubu’s administration could face greater challenges as a result.

In July 2024, Tinubu, who narrowly won the February 2023 presidential election and was sworn in on May 29, 2023, asserted that he was not answerable to any cabal or moneybag. However, Dalung’s observations suggest otherwise, casting doubt on the president’s independence from internal power players.