Solomon Dalung, former Minister of Sports, has alleged that during his time in office, the people around former President Muhammadu Buhari prevented ministers from having direct access to him.
Dalung made this claim during an appearance on the Channels Television programme, Sunrise Daily.
He insisted that under the administration of Buhari, most ministers could only meet with the president after the conclusion of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meetings.
According to Dalung, there were individuals within the presidency, whom he referred to as mere aides, but who wielded significant power, sometimes surpassing that of the ministers.
These individuals, he alleged, acted as gatekeepers and restricted access to the president, deciding when and how ministers could interact with him.
He further stated that some ministers had to submit memos to these individuals to request a meeting with the president, and even then, access was limited to specific times, such as after FEC meetings.
Dalung also noted that those who were not in favor of President Buhari seemed to have more influence within his inner circle, as they were part of the group that controlled access to him.
However, he acknowledged President Buhari’s receptiveness to the truth, stating that the president was willing to listen to those who could provide honest assessments.
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