‘Nigeria Had Stage Two Cancer; You Pushed It To Stage Four And Into A Coma’ — Dele Momodu Blasts Tinubu’s Independence Day Cancer Analogy

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Dele Momodu, has berated President Bola Tinubu, saying his economic reforms sent Nigeria into a coma and metastasised Nigeria’s “cancer” from stage two to stage four.

Momodu criticised President Tinubu’s 66th Independence Day broadcast, accusing his administration of worsening economic hardship, insecurity, poverty and turning a day meant for celebration into one of “lamentation.”

Tinubu, in his address, had likened Nigeria’s pre-2023 economic condition to that of a cancer patient who had been kept alive with painkillers, while presenting his reforms as necessary treatment.

Reacting, Momodu said he was “honestly” unimpressed.

“I have just watched and listened to your speech on television, and I must honestly say I wasn’t impressed. Today is supposed to be a day of celebration, but your speech turned it into a day of lamentation,” Momodu said.

“My heart bled as you went into the morbid analogy of Nigeria as being a cancer patient that merely survived on painkillers before your arrival as a celebrated surgeon. You specifically mentioned morphine as the drug of choice by your predecessors. I’m not sure this analogy was appropriate.

“At the time you assumed power, Nigeria probably had stage two cancer, at the worst. You were expected to stabilize it and not to metastasize it into a stage four cancer.”

Momodu said Tinubu’s first prescription on day one was a monumental disaster.

“Your first prescription on day one was a monumental disaster. You took no time to properly examine your patient. You were too much in a hurry to administer your jab, which automatically sent Nigeria into an instant coma. And you’ve not been able to revive it.

“The least we expected from you was to stabilize and not to destabilize everything in sight. Sir, your fuel subsidy stunt was a misadventure. I expected an apology for the medical calamity.”

He further faulted the administration over excessive spending and governance failure:

“So, Nigeria has made more money, amassed more loans, insecurity has increased, poverty has escalated, profligacy is palpable, politicians have remained insensitive, elections have taken priority over governance, renewed hope has collapsed into hopelessness and abject despair…”

He said Nigerians have mostly given up on Tinubu’s promises barely three months to the next elections.

“Four years may not be able to contain and solve all our problems, but the HOPE should be glaring by now,” Momodu added.