The former Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Solomon Dalung, has stated that no presidential candidate can succeed without getting votes from the north.
Dalung stated this after the African Democratic Congress (ADC) commenced its primaries in Nasarawa State.
The Chairperson of the ADC State Election Committee for Nasarawa made the assertion in Lafia while monitoring the primary elections for House of Assembly, House of Representatives, and Senate positions.
He said, “You can’t win an election in Nigeria without support from the North. You cannot. The North is mainly ADC.”
He claimed that Nigeria has returned to regional politics, just as it did during the First Republic.
“We are now focusing on regional politics in Nigeria. What took place in the first republic is similar to what is happening now. So, every region has its party.
“The Igbos have taken APGA. APC, Nigerians have left it to Tinubu and his group. The PDP, Jonathan has brought it down South,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dalung has expressed doubt about the resignation of Finance Minister, Wale Edun, from President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet.
PrimeTimes Nigeria recalls that the Presidency had said Edun voluntarily submitted his resignation letter on his 70th birthday, citing health challenges, and subsequently paid a valedictory visit to Tinubu at the Villa before stepping down.
However, Dalung, during an interview with Trust TV, said he had known Edun personally and could vouch for his character.
According to Dalung, Edun is a man of integrity who was fundamentally ill-suited to the political environment around Tinubu, stressing that his exit was inevitable because his values could not survive the arrangement in place.
He said, “Wale Edun is somebody who has integrity. He’s a misfit into a political arrangement like the one we have in place.
“I think he tolerated it to the extent that his integrity was going to break and he had to throw in the towel.”
Dalung said he would go along with the health grounds explanation since it was the official media statement, but knows that the situation surrounding the resignation was different.
He stated, “What we know is more than what they are trying to tell Nigerians.
“Nobody is as close to Wale Edun as to Bola Tinubu. He has been with Tinubu for a very long time. And if he could be handled in this manner, there’s nobody jumping around Tinubu.”
While describing Edun as among the best Nigerians he had encountered, Dalung said, “When I was a minister, he visited me every day in my office. He’s one of the best Nigerians. When he was appointed minister, I wanted to tell him that I don’t envy him.”
Dalung also revealed that his personal relationship with the former Minister had grown cold since Edun’s inauguration, saying Edun had stopped returning his calls.
He added, “The day they inaugurated him, he has not picked my call. I didn’t want to bother about that because I wanted to allow him to finish with his Tinubu minister. When he finished, we’ll continue with our friendship.”