Dele Momodu Slams Tinubu Over Independence Day Speech

A prominent member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dele Momodu, has criticised President Bola Tinubu over his national address commemorating Nigeria’s 66th Independence anniversary.
Momodu made his position known in a statement shared on his verified X account on Thursday, following the President’s address to Nigerians in commemoration of the country’s 66th Independence anniversary.
The publisher of Ovation Magazine expressed disappointment with Tinubu’s comparison of Nigeria’s previous condition to that of a cancer patient who relied on painkillers before the arrival of a celebrated surgeon.
He questioned the appropriateness of the analogy, insisting that Nigerians expected the President to address the country’s challenges rather than suggest that his predecessors had left the nation in a more critical condition.
According to Momodu, Nigeria was expected to experience recovery under Tinubu’s leadership, rather than witness its problems deepen.
He also raised concerns over the country’s economic situation, pointing to increased revenue, rising public debt, worsening insecurity and growing poverty.
The ADC chieftain further accused political leaders of remaining disconnected from the suffering of ordinary Nigerians.
In his message, Momodu congratulated the President on the nation’s 66th anniversary but expressed sadness over the tone and content of his broadcast.
He particularly faulted Tinubu’s reference to morphine as the medication allegedly used by previous administrations to manage Nigeria’s problems.
Momodu maintained that when Tinubu assumed office, the country was not in the advanced condition described by the President.
He argued that the administration was expected to stabilise the nation and address its difficulties rather than allow them to deteriorate further.
The politician’s remarks reflect his dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of insecurity, poverty and economic challenges, as Nigerians marked another year of independence.