Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) and the Northern Awareness Network (NAN) have faulted recent comments made by the former minister of youth and sports, Solomon Dalung. They said Dalung had accused the current administration of President Bola Tinubu of incompetence and ineptitude in an apparent attempt to incite the youth into violent protests and civil disobedience.
The youth groups, in separate statements issued and signed by Yerima Shettima, president general of AYCF, and Salifu Suleiman, chairman of NAN, respectively, described Dalung’s comment as the height of shameless recklessness, considering his own track record while he held office as minister of youth and sports.
The groups alleged that “During his (Dalung) tenure, Nigerian athletes faced numerous challenges due to his incompetence.
One glaring example is when Nigerian athletes were sent to the Rio Olympics in 2016 without proper sports kits and uniforms, which embarrassed our country on the global stage.”
The groups said it is indeed ironic that Dalung, who has a long record of misgovernance, incompetence, and alleged corruption, would dare to pass judgment on any administration or official, saying his attempts to return as a minister after being sacked, and his failed bid for a House of Representatives seat in 2023 under the SDP ticket after being rejected by both the PDP and LP, further highlighted his lack of popular support.
They said that it is also worth mentioning that President Buhari appointed Dalung as a minister in part due to his controversial record of constantly attacking his Christian indigenes in Plateau State, which they noted is a clear testament to his lack of dedication to true public service.
The AYCF condemned his actions and called for accountability for his numerous acts of misgovernance and urged all Nigerians to reject individuals like Dalung who put their own interests above that of the country.
The AYCF condemned Dalung’s baseless accusations and called for him to be held accountable for his actions while in office. “We urge the Nigerian public to reject his attempts to regain political relevance and to support leaders committed to promoting transparency, accountability, and good governance,” the group said.
NAN, for its part, averred that Dalung, as a public figure, has a platform that can influence and shape the mindset of young people, adding that his words carry weight and can incite actions that have far-reaching consequences. “It is, therefore, crucial that he exercises caution and responsibility in his speech, particularly when it comes to matters of violence and conflict.
“Encouraging the youth to engage in acts of violence goes against the principles of integrity and respect for the rule of law. It undermines the very foundations of a just and orderly society, and can lead to chaos, destruction, and unnecessary loss of life. The consequences of such actions are catastrophic, and can have long-lasting repercussions for both individuals and communities,” it said.
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