Amid a sea of flag-waving supporters, Solomon Dalung, a member of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s political party, raised his fist in protest on August 1, denouncing what he called the party’s broken promises.
Clad in a red beret and a shirt typical of revolutionary activists, Dalung accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of making Nigeria more impoverished and unsafe since they took power in 2015. Dalung had served as Minister of Youth and Sports during the previous administration of President Muhammadu Buhari but was passed over for appointment to the Tinubu Administration.
At the Old Airport roundabout, a key intersection leading to the Plateau State Government House in Jos, a large military presence was evident, with tanks and armored vehicles on standby.
Simultaneously, thousands of civilians gathered in major cities across the country in the second-largest demonstration in four years against what organizers labeled as “bad governance” under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Dalung criticized soldiers and policemen for what he termed ‘intimidation’ against unarmed protesters. He specifically questioned the deployment of armored vehicles and machine guns to the protest venues while civilian villages remained under terrorists threat.
“So you have this caliber of weapons, yet we have been displaced from our homes and farms?” He asked, “So you can intimidate us this much but can’t intimidate those killing us?” He continued. “All the weapons you have deployed here were bought with our taxes,” he said. “Those weapons were not bought for you to intimidate us when we gather for peaceful protests. Those weapons were bought for you to protect us,” he added. “We therefore urge you to use those weapons to go after terrorists like Bello Turji who are daily challenging the integrity of this country by even issuing threat videos,” he told the crowd.
Kayode Egbetokun, the Nigerian Inspector General of Police told reporters in the capital city of Abuja on August 1 that several police officers were injured while some stations were razed by “hoodlums” disguised as protesters, hence the mass deployments of troops to protest venues.
He emphasized that the police force was on high alert, with all units mobilized to maintain public safety and order. “Our officers are fully mobilized and prepared to respond swiftly and decisively” to any threats to public safety,” Egbetokun said.
A coalition of tribal youth associations in Plateau State opted not to participate in the protests, citing concerns over potential violence. Led by Chairman Paul Joshua Dekete and Secretary Duwam Bosko, the group called for the appointment of a new Minister from Plateau State and demanded a review of gas prices alongside increased protection for local communities.
“Without any prejudice to the constitutionality of the so-called Nationwide Agitation and Planned Protest, the Coalition is constrained by the peculiar circumstances and challenges of our individual and collective survival on the Plateau, particularly the precarious security balance to appeal to our National Compatriots to exempt the Youths, our members, from participating in the 10-day National protest, not so much that we are insulated from the general malaise in Nigeria, but for the risky security circumstances we face as Plateau Communities,” said the youths during a press conference in Jos on July 31.
The Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) which has branches in the United States and the UK also exempted its four-million members from the protest. In a statement on July 25, the Church, with headquarters in Jos, also cited potential “bloodshed” for its decision. But Dalung, who identifies as its member, said he chose to die on the side of justice.
“All of you are aware that I, Solomon Selkat Dalung, was one of those who campaigned vigorously and brought APC to power,” said Dalung.
“I served in the government of President Muhammadu Buhari for three-and-a-half years,” said Dalung. “And I have come out publicly and owned up to Nigerians that the promise we made, we failed,” Dalung said in a loud voice.
“I want to use this opportunity to apologize to all Nigerians that, as a human being, I didn’t know that this was where we were going to take this country,” Dalung said.
“And having brought this country to this state and having realized that we failed to move this country forward, I am not a pretender,” Dalung added.
“We are here in solidarity with the people of Nigeria who have come out en mass to protest peacefully against hunger, against poverty, against insecurity, against injustice and against impunity,” Dalung said.
Prophet Isa El-Buba, a firebrand minister known for his fierce criticism of the previous administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, shared similar sentiments.
“They know where the bandits are,” said El-Buba, who led hundreds of his church members on the day-long march. “Why will they not go after the terrorists?” queried the General Overseer of EBOMI miniseries headquartered in Jos. “Why will they go after the innocent Nigerian?” He shouted. “Today we are saying enough is enough,” he said. “All our lost communities in Plateau must be reclaimed,” he demanded.
“It’s time that all of these armored tanks that I can see all over the city head to the bushes,” he went on to say. “Those armored tanks are meant to go to the bushes and deal with the terrorists,” he stressed.
Masara Kim is an award-winning Conflict Reporter in Jos and the senior editor of TruthNigeria