From Sola Ojo, Abuja
Following comments credited to a former Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr. Solomon Dalung, accusing the administration of President Bola Tinubu of incompetence and ineptitude, the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) yesterday picked holes in his position.
President General of AYCF, Yerima Shettima in a statement described Dalung’s statements as an attempt to incite the youths into violent protests and civil disobedience.
The statement read in part: “We find it the height of shameless recklessness and insanity for Dalung to make such baseless accusations considering his track record mismanagement while he held office as Minister of Sports.
“During his tenure, Nigerian athletes faced numerous challenges due to his incompetence. One glaring example was when Nigerian athletes were sent to the Rio Olympics in 2016 without proper sports kits and uniforms, which brought embarrassment to our country on the global stage.
“Moreover, Dalung unlawfully withdrew $130,000 from the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), which had been mistakenly credited to the Ministry of Sports, and refused to refund it despite the serious consequences that Nigeria faced as a result.
“That money was eventually repaid only after his dismissal by the Buhari administration and the efforts of his successor, Mr. Sunday Dare.
“It is indeed ironic that Dalung, who has a long record of misgovernance and incompetence would dare to pass judgment on any administration or official.
His attempts to return as a minister after being sacked, and his failed bid for a House of Representatives seat in 2023 under the SDP ticket after being rejected by both the PDP and LP, further highlight his lack of integrity and popular support.”