Former Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung, has expressed the view that the decision of former Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa, to accept a ministerial appointment could have significant implications for his long-term political prospects.
Speaking during an interview on SYMFONI TV, Dalung argued that Musa had previously enjoyed widespread admiration across religious and regional divides, a factor he believes could have positioned him as a unifying national figure in the future. He noted that Musa’s upbringing in northern Nigeria and his public image contributed to his broad appeal among both Christians and Muslims.
According to Dalung, such a level of acceptance is rare and reminiscent of the kind of nationwide support that helped former President Muhammadu Buhari build strong political momentum over the years. He suggested that if Musa had remained outside of political office after retiring from the military, his popularity might have naturally translated into a major political force by 2031.
Dalung further implied that Musa’s entry into the current administration under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu may have changed how he is perceived by the public, shifting him from a neutral, widely admired military figure to a political appointee aligned with a particular government.
In his words, “if Christopher Musa had not accepted to be a minister under Tinubu when he retired, in 2031, he would have been another Buhari. Because he was much loved and liked by both Christians and Muslims.”
