Former youth and sports minister, Solomon Dalung, accused President Bola Tinubu of self-centeredness, alleging that he failed to replicate his incredible performance as a two-term Lagos governor across the country.

“This wasn’t the Tinubu that was the governor in Lagos state,” Mr Dalung said in a Channels TV interview on Monday. “He has suddenly changed. He has become very parochial, lost focus, so selfish, self-centred and so full of himself.”

Mr Tinubu was Lagos governor from 1999 to 2007. He was hailed for boosting internal revenue, modernising infrastructure and instituting a long-term development blueprint in the state.

“Many Nigerians elected Bola Tinubu not because they liked the APC, but they thought as a Lagos magician speculated to have transformed Lagos into one of the major economies in Nigeria. He is going to replicate the same (as a president).

“You can’t also dismiss the influence of former President Buhari on the votes Tinubu got (in the last election); 5.5 million of those votes came predominantly from the northern parts of the country, who were also deceived with the Muslim-Muslim ticket,” the politician added.

Asked who to blame should Mr Tinubu win the 2027 presidential election, Mr Dalung stated, “I will accept it as a verdict of Nigerians. It will mean that we are not on the same page with Nigerians as to the issues of the sovereignty of this country. I’m not going to blame it on the coalition.”

The presidency could not be immediately reached for comment.