The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has fired back at Solomon Dalung, the former Minister of Youth and Sports, calling his time in office a “monumentally disastrous” period.
Wike’s response came after Dalung dismissed the ongoing construction of roads in the FCT as not being real development, a comment Wike described as “an exhibition of a mind rapidly deteriorating.”
In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications, Lere Olayinka, Wike criticized Dalung’s perspective, accusing him of harboring ill-will towards the current administration led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The FCT Minister highlighted Dalung’s irrational view that road construction should not be considered development since many Nigerians do not own vehicles.
He pointed out the absurdity of this stance, noting that during Dalung’s tenure, the Nigerian national football team failed to qualify for the Nations Cup.
Wike then listed several key infrastructure projects in the FCT, such as the Saburi-Dei Dei road and the 5km Dutse-Usuma Dam road, dismissing Dalung’s claim that such development projects held no value.
He also mentioned other important ongoing roadworks in satellite towns like Kabusa, Ketti, and Takushara, which Dalung, in Wike’s view, would fail to recognize as important.
Referring to Dalung’s controversial statements as Sports Minister, Wike recounted instances where Dalung had downplayed the failure to fund the national football teams, notably during the 2016 African Women Championship and the Rio 2016 Olympics.
Wike expressed concern for Dalung’s mental well-being, suggesting that his behavior was showing signs of an urgent need for help.
