Chief Dele Momodu, Deputy Director-General of Media and Communications of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council, has criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Independence Day broadcast, describing the address as uninspiring.
Momodu reacted in a post on his verified X account on Thursday, October 1, following the President’s nationwide broadcast to mark Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.
He said he had watched the address on television and was disappointed by its tone, arguing that an occasion intended to celebrate national independence had instead become an opportunity to dwell on hardship.
Momodu Questions Tone of Presidential Address
In his response, Momodu congratulated the President on the anniversary before expressing his dissatisfaction with the speech.
“Dear Mr President, please permit me to wish you Happy Independence on our 66th anniversary,” he wrote.
He continued: “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 also questioned the analogy Tinubu used to describe the state of the Nigerian economy before his administration’s reforms.
His criticism centred on the tone and message of the address, particularly the President’s discussion of the economic difficulties inherited by his administration and the reforms introduced since taking office.
Business Times Nigeria reported Momodu’s reaction on October 1, 2026.
Debate Over National Mood and Economic Progress
Tinubu’s Independence Day speech focused on the argument that difficult economic reforms were necessary to address structural problems accumulated over several decades.
The President acknowledged that the reforms had produced hardship for many citizens but maintained that the country was moving towards a period of broader prosperity.
Momodu’s response reflects a contrasting view of how the administration’s message was received by one of its political critics.
The exchange comes amid continuing debate over the cost of living, economic policy and the pace at which Nigerians should expect to experience improvements in their daily lives.