Muhammadu Buhari was a stranger in his own government-Solomon Dalung

 In a candid revelation, former Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Solomon Dalung, has depicted ex-President Muhammadu Buhari as a "stranger in his own government," asserting that Buhari was both utilized and subsequently marginalized by political elites.

Dalung, who served under Buhari's administration, shared these insights during an interview on the PoliticsToday. He contended that Buhari's widespread appeal was strategically harnessed by political elites to unseat then-President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015.However, once in power, these elites allegedly sidelined Buhari, effectively commandeering the reins of governance.

"Buhari's charisma was needed at that point in time by the political elite to eliminate Goodluck Jonathan," Dalung remarked."Shortly after Buhari had taken over power, these sets of political elites emerged and hijacked the government, and Buhari was a stranger.

Dalung recounted a personal encounter in 2020, where he expressed to Buhari that the administration's trajectory diverged significantly from their campaign promises.He highlighted escalating insecurity, noting that while initial concerns were confined to the Northeast, by 2020, even the Abuja-Kaduna corridor had become perilous.

"I told him, 'Mr. President, this wasn't what we told Nigerians. I have a conscience. We campaigned and convinced Nigerians, and when I look at the type of investment that the common people put in our government... here we are today with insecurity,'" Dalung recounted.

These revelations cast a spotlight on the internal dynamics of Buhari's administration, suggesting that the former president may have been ensnared in a web of political machinations that limited his governance efficacy.Dalung's assertions offer a window into the intricate power plays that can pervade political systems, where figureheads may find themselves overshadowed by influential insiders.

The implications of such internal usurpation are profound, potentially undermining the very democratic principles upon which a government is founded.As Nigeria reflects on this period, Dalung's disclosures serve as a cautionary tale about the perils of internal subversion and the importance of vigilance in preserving the sanctity of democratic governance.