Nigeria is bleeding into a coma, according to former Sports Minister Solomon Dalung.
In a post on his verified Facebook page, Dalung begged President Muhammadu Buhari to act quickly to prevent his legacy from being discarded.
Dalung, who served in Buhari's cabinet from 2015 to 2019, said he would not "fear the voices of cowardly, religious bigots, ethnic chauvinists, or urban gorillas who eat fat on the people's ignorance and gullibility."
"I have observed some people insinuating that my views on the current state of insecurity in the country are as a result of my no longer being in government," he continued, "but they failed to understand that in government, there are established communication procedures with direct access to the President or whoever is concerned.
" So you can only check whether I took advantage of such opportunities positively while in government, assuming, of course, that I did not betray my conscience. Because I vigorously campaigned for the Change Mantra, I was not silent whenever the occasion demanded advice against policies incompatible with our contract with the Nigerian people as a member of the Federal Executive Council.
"I have spoken out against what I believe does not represent leadership integrity, and I have fought long and hard with those whose motives contradict our intentions to effect change in governance; these and many other things are done behind the scenes, and I am not seeking the approval of any jaundice bigotry or sadistic mediocrity."
How many current or former government officials speak out against the nation's harmful trends? Should I be afraid of cowardice, religious bigots, ethnic chauvinists, or urban gorillas who make a living off the people's ignorance and gullibility? I'm guided by conscience, and I can't sleep with my eyes closed while people's lives are reduced to statistics, especially in the north and other parts of the country, and all you want from me is respectful silence?
"That is not Solomon Dalung; I am a personality that will tell you the truth whether you like it or not; truth is eternal, and I am incapable of sugar coating it."
My commitment to President Mohammadu Buhari is to help him fulfil the trust that the Nigerian people have placed in him, not to sing praises for him.
This was the covenant that brought us together, and I hope I don't violate him by succumbing to the current temptations of being a sycophant. Mr. President, injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere, and Nigeria is bleeding to death."