Nigeria’s Former Minister of Youth and Sports Development Criticizes President’s Address

A former Minister of Youth and Sports Development in Nigeria, Solomon Dalung, has spoken out against President Bola Tinubu’s national broadcast, saying it failed to address the ongoing nationwide hunger protest. Dalung, who led an anti-government protest in Jos, Plateau State last Thursday, attended a Sunday church service with protesters in Jos, where he reiterated his criticism of the President’s address.

Speaking to journalists at the Sunday service, Dalung described Tinubu’s broadcast as empty, insisting that the protest was far from finished. He claimed that the President’s speech did not appeal to protesters to stop the protest, instead threatening them and telling security agencies to continue with the clampdown. "The President did not say anything in his speech. He did not appeal to the protesters to stop the protest. He only threatened them and told the security agencies to continue with the clampdown, shooting and killing. He did not even address Nigerians. He was just talking to himself and members of his cabinet. All these things he said only go to strengthen our resolve to continue with this protest," Dalung said.

The protesters, who brandished the Nigerian flag, blocked the Old Airport Roundabout, forcing motorists to seek alternative routes within the metropolis. Some of them, who spoke with our correspondent, said the church service was significant because they believed that God still had the capacity to intervene in the affairs of Nigeria and turn things around for good for the suffering citizens.

Philip Madaki, a protester who arrived at the Old Airport Junction for the Sunday Service at 7:30 am, said, "I have been participating in the protest since it began on Thursday and today being Sunday, we are continuing with the protest with a church service. As the protest is ongoing, we believe that God Almighty has not abandoned the country and its citizens and we know He has the power to turn the hearts of kings in whichever direction he wants. And we want Him to visit our leaders in the country, especially those in governance positions and touch their hearts so that they will know that the citizens are really suffering because of bad governance and their harsh economic policies in the country and be able to do something to change the situation. That’s why we are adding the church service to the ongoing protests."