THE SALVO IN SOLOMON’S SERMON
By Bala Ibrahim
Solomon Dalung, lawyer and former Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, had written a congratulatory message to President Tinubu, on the swift response by Nigerian troops to thwart the coup attempt in the neighbouring Benin Republic. The message was titled, Congratulations President Tinubu for the intervention in Benin Republic, now Trump is welcome. The message in the letter can be looked at from two perspectives- the perspective of morality and the perspective of national loyalty. When looked at from the angle of morality, particularly where he raised issues that have religious rhythms, one can conveniently call it a sermon. And I would applaud him later on that. But when perused through the prism of politics, particularly opposition politics, where Barrister Dalung belongs now, a segment sounds like a salvo, a salvo fired by one, against one’s country. And I would also give him a response on that, later.
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For the sermon, indeed Solomon has raised serious issues that should touch the conscience of our leaders in the discharge of the responsibility placed on them, as the shepherds of the country. Barrister Solomon’s sermon started thus:
“The early hours of Sunday, 7th December 2025, witnessed a sudden military putsch in the Republic of Benin. Soldiers led by Lt. Col. Pascal Tigri seized the national television station, announced the dissolution of democratic institutions, and ordered the closure of airspace and land borders. In what appeared to be a decisive display of regional leadership, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces, swiftly deployed air assets and ground troops across the border.
Within one hour, the Nigerian Air Force reportedly executed coordinated aerial strikes on convoys believed to be transporting coup loyalists. The operation was quick, clinical, and effective. The putsch was crushed, stability restored, and constitutional order reinstated. For this prompt action, President Tinubu deserves commendation. His intervention reaffirmed Nigeria’s historic role as a backbone of West African stability and guardian of democratic norms in the sub-region.
However, this success story raises uncomfortable but important questions about the Federal Government’s commitment to combating terrorism, banditry, and internal insecurity within Nigeria. If we possessed such air power, tactical response capacity, and elite strike forces all along, why have we watched terrorists ravage communities, kidnap schoolchildren, and murder citizens daily without equivalent urgency? Why was Brigadier General Musa Uba left abandoned in the forest for days, only for his location to be compromised and he subsequently recaptured and executed by ISWAP?”
If we put politics aside, put sentiments aside. Put personal ego aside. Put thoughtlessness aside, you can not but commend Solomon Dalung for what he said. This is exactly what you would hear when you go to the Mosque of a God- fearing Imam or the church of a God- fearing Pastor. That’s why I called it a sermon. It is a sermon that was put together with the semblance of patriotism. And beyond President Tinubu, I want our leaders to look into the questions raised by the Barrister with an open and patriotic mind. We must not crucify him as an opportunistic opponent, that is talking out of the anger of loosing the grip of power. The image of the country would be laundered well if we address the issues raised with similar or even faster vigor, especially with the coming of a new but extremely experienced minister of Defence.
But while applauding Dalung for his display of Patriotism, which is a love and devotion to one’s country, I am compulsorily compelled, to draw his attention to the ills of playing patriotism and inverted or detrimental nationalism concurrently. When one engages in an advocacy that promotes the belief that, one’s country is inferior to another country, such that he is even supporting, and openly inviting the leader of that country, to come to a misguided rescue of his country, that person has subjugated the sovereignty of his country, and by implication, trampled upon its independence. For a lawyer, that is the most unwise thing to do. It is a salvo too harsh and too hot to fire at your country.
Yes, I agree with Dalung where he said, “while we applaud the restoration of democracy in Benin Republic, we demand the same energy, courage and urgency to secure Nigerian citizens. Let the fighter jets that flew into Cotonou also roar over Sambisa. Let the boots that marched for Benin march for Chibok, Kachia, Mangu and Kontagora. National strength is not measured only abroad, it is proven at home”.
If he reads his last sentence on measuring national strength, from the proper perspective of nationalism, he would realize that President Trump is not planning to do anything to Nigeria, that is different from what President Tinubu did to Benin Republic. He wants to prove the national strength of his country abroad.
If you condemn Lt. Col. Pascal Tigri, for bringing out boots on the streets of Cotonou, you must not call on similar boots to arrive, gun a blazing, from far away America, to crush your own countrymen, Nigerians. That is inverted nationalism, that sounds like a salvo.
THE SALVO IN SOLOMON’S SERMON