We’re Disappointed In The Change Agenda We Supported – Buhari’s Former Minister–Dalung
…Says northern political leaders are the problem of the region
BY ADEYEMI AKANJI, BAUCHI – President Muhammadu Buhari’s former minister of Sports and Youth Development, Mr Solomon Dalung on Tuesday took a critical look at the current happenings in the polity, saying; “those of us who supported the change agenda in 2015 have been disappointed by the current situation”.
Dalung, who did not hide his bitterness while delivering a paper in Bauchi, however said that they are hoping that things might get better again.
This is as he chided Northern political leaders for the woes currently bedeviling the region which he noted has set the region backwards in every facet of development.
Dalung said the unfortunate situation is mainly as a result of the ego and selfish interest of the political leaders against the collective interest and stressed the need for them to bury their faces in shame.
He said the time has come for the political leaders to understand and face the reality that the region is indeed underdeveloped by its own people and stop blaming Southerners its woes.
Speaking as a keynote speaker at the 1st national conference of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), at the Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi, on Tuesday, with the theme; “Insecurity, Economic Growth and Governance Triangle: Nigeria in Focus”, Dalung also accused the Northern leaders for the predicaments of the Fulani race particularly the herders.
The former minister specifically said that Northern leaders must stop blaming Southern leaders and treat the Fulani with justice in order to bring an end to the problem of farmers and herders clashes in the country.
He equally blamed leaders in the country for fueling the spate of insecurity in the country, saying that unless they eschew sentiments and reset their cultural values, it would be difficult to surmount the security challenges bedeviling the nation.
Dalung said; “If leaders in the country are sincere in addressing this challenge of security at hand passionately, devoid of sentiments, Nigeria would have come out of its predicaments long ago.
“The missing link is the cultural link which constitute the foundation upon which every super structure of our society is founded. This cultural missing link needs to be found and quickly too, if the country is to achieve its development objectives.
“To achieve this, all hands must be on deck. Our traditional rulers who are the embodiment and custodians of our revered cultural institutions, religious leaders, elders and youths alike must join hands with government to bring this about.
“We cannot access good governance without addressing our value system. If we as leaders are crying foul, that Nigeria is in a mess, then it means that we have not interrogated the true values of the society,” he said.
