By OBSERVERS TIMES
Former Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Solomon Dalung, has issued a stark warning to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), asserting that the upcoming 2027 general elections will represent a confrontation between the suffering masses and their oppressors.
In a statement shared with THE WHISTLER on Saturday, Dalung drew unsettling parallels between the current economic challenges faced by Nigerians under President Bola Tinubu’s administration and the final days of former President Goodluck Jonathan’s tenure in 2015. He described the situation as history “repeating itself with frightening accuracy.”
Dalung remarked, “No president in Nigeria’s history has garnered more public endorsements than Goodluck Jonathan did in 2015. Governors, senators, traditional leaders, and wealthy businessmen all rallied to support him. But it was merely a façade. The people voiced their discontent and ousted him. That moment is upon us once more.”
He emphasized that the 2015 election was lost not due to a lackluster campaign but because of “the arrogance of power and a blatant disregard for the suffering of the populace.” He claimed that despite Jonathan’s extensive campaign resources and strategic delays, the election was ultimately decided by a frustrated electorate that had endured rampant insecurity and poor governance.
“The North was galvanized and resolute in their decision to vote Jonathan out, irrespective of the challenges. This is where Nigeria stands today,” Dalung asserted.
He criticized the Tinubu administration for failing to grasp the prevailing sentiments among Nigerians, who are grappling with severe economic hardship, insecurity, and inflation, while the presidency remains “deaf to the cries of the masses.”
“This is not merely a contest between the APC and the PDP or any other political party,” he cautioned. “In 2027, it will be the people versus the system that has impoverished and ignored them.”
Referencing the notorious $2.1 billion arms procurement scandal during Jonathan’s administration, which was allegedly misappropriated for his reelection campaign, Dalung warned against the misuse of public funds for political gain. “The specters of Dasuki and the arms fund still loom over Nigeria. We must not tread that path again. Our democracy must not be auctioned off for dollars and patronage.”
While Jonathan has denied any involvement in the arms fund scandal, Dalung criticized the growing number of public endorsements for Tinubu’s second term, likening them to the “charade” that preceded Jonathan’s electoral defeat.
“Endorsements do not win elections; they are merely a smokescreen. What truly matters is trust, and right now, Nigerians are disillusioned,” he stated.
Quoting former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Dalung remarked, “Postponing the funeral doesn’t wake the dead. You’re only delaying the burial,” alluding to the delays in the 2015 elections under Jonathan’s government. He concluded, “That statement resonates even more today. While Tinubu’s government may still hold office, politically, it is already dead in the hearts of Nigerians.”
