Former Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Solomon Dalung, has taken a swipe at the 10th National Assembly, accusing its members of abandoning their constitutional duties in favour of blind loyalty to President Bola Tinubu.
Dalung, in a fiery critique during a recent interview with Sun, described the current legislature as more than just a “rubber stamp,” claiming it has become a chorus line devoted to singing the praises of the president at every opportunity.
“I disagree with those calling it a rubber stamp. This 10th Assembly is a band of choristers for the president,” Dalung said. “Anytime Tinubu steps into the chamber, they behave like excited grandchildren welcoming their grandfather. They burst into songs.”
The former minister recounted one such moment, stating that he was alarmed by the song he thought he heard from the floor of the Assembly.
“The last one they sang, I had a problem with my ears. What I heard was: ‘On your dollar we shall stand. On your dollar, Tinubu, on your dollar we shall stand.’ Everyone was singing and dancing. Others claimed they heard something different, but that’s what I heard,” he added.
Dalung said the behavior of the lawmakers goes beyond passive endorsement and borders on absolute submission, warning that such a climate could lead to grave constitutional breaches.
“I’m afraid that this 10th Assembly may wake up one day and, with a voice vote, amend the constitution and appoint Tinubu as life president of Nigeria,” he said.
He did not spare Senate President Godswill Akpabio in his criticism, suggesting that the legislative process has become so compromised that major constitutional decisions could now be passed without scrutiny or debate.
“Akpabio might just walk in one day and say, ‘We have a report that the constitution now appoints Tinubu as life president. Those in favour say aye.’ Before anyone could raise an objection, he would strike the gavel and declare, ‘the ayes have it.’ That’s the kind of National Assembly we are dealing with.”
Dalung concluded by dismissing the label of “rubber stamp” as inaccurate, arguing that even a rubber stamp implies there is a document to endorse.
“This Assembly doesn’t need anything on the table. Even a dream or a whisper from Tinubu is enough to spark legislative action. They are not rubber stamps; they are ‘Emi Lokan’ choristers,” he said, using Tinubu’s now-famous slogan to underscore his point.
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