Former Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, has revealed fresh details about the political maneuvering that shaped the push for power rotation ahead of Nigeria’s 2023 general election, pointing to the influential role played by Nasir El-Rufai.
Dalung made the disclosure during an interview from 5:17 on SYMFONI TV, where he reflected on the internal dynamics within the northern political bloc and how key decisions were reached regarding the zoning of presidential power. His comments come amid continued debates over the legitimacy and motivations behind the call for a southern presidency following the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Providing insight into the events that unfolded, Dalung quoted: “He singlehandedly mobilized 5 governors including the then chairman of northern governors forum, Simon Lalong to go and confront Buhari. Buhari told them, go and elect whosoever you want.” The former minister suggested that El-Rufai played a central role in rallying northern governors to engage Buhari directly on the issue of succession and zoning.
Dalung’s account indicates that Buhari, rather than imposing a preferred direction, allowed the governors the freedom to make their own political choice regarding the 2023 election. This, according to observers, may have further strengthened the resolve among some northern leaders to support a shift of power to the South.
The revelation adds a new dimension to ongoing discussions about how consensus was built within the ruling political class before the election. It also raises questions about the extent of coordination and influence among northern political elites during a critical period in Nigeria’s democratic process. Read_More…