Former Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Solomon Dalung, has taken a swipe at Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, dismissing his criticisms against opposition coalition members and questioning his credibility based on past political statements.
Speaking during an interview on Symfoni TV, Dalung was asked to respond to Wike’s recent remark in which he branded the African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition a congregation of political failures with no chance of relevance by 2027.
Rather than directly engage with Wike’s remarks, Dalung pointed to what he described as the minister’s contradictory record of statements and political actions. He argued that Wike’s history of reversals undermines his authority to mock others.
“You see the FCT minister, even though a lawyer, is always very reckless with his utterances,” Dalung said. “I would have answered him but this was the same person who said APC is a cancer. The same person said he will never leave PDP. If he leaves PDP, God should kill him.”
Dalung highlighted the contradiction between Wike’s past declarations and his current political alignment, suggesting that the minister’s words often fail to align with his actions.
“And the same person that is saying this now is the one looking at some people and saying they will render them irrelevant,” he added. “You know from his antecedents we know the type of person, the personality he is.”
The former minister argued that Wike’s inconsistency makes it unnecessary to respond seriously to his criticisms. He explained that in his view, the credibility of a critic matters more than the criticism itself.
“So I don’t need to waste energy in this well-prepared interview to concentrate on somebody who has no modicum of credibility to reply to. Why should I reply?” Dalung asked rhetorically.
The comments come amid heightened political tensions as opposition parties attempt to position themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The ADC coalition, which Dalung is affiliated with, has sought to present itself as a credible alternative to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Wike, a former governor of Rivers State and once a vocal PDP stalwart, has in recent months attracted controversy over his role in President Bola Tinubu’s administration as FCT Minister while still claiming loyalty to the PDP.
His sharp criticisms of opposition elements have fueled accusations that he is more interested in consolidating personal influence than building party unity.
Dalung’s dismissal of Wike underscores broader frustrations among opposition figures who view the minister as politically opportunistic. By invoking Wike’s past statements against his present conduct, Dalung sought to portray him as lacking the moral standing to dismiss others.
Political observers note that this is not the first time Dalung has spoken out against what he perceives as reckless rhetoric in Nigeria’s political space.
Known for his blunt commentary, the former minister has frequently urged politicians to act with consistency and credibility if they expect to be taken seriously by the public.
