A former Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, has faulted President Bola Tinubu’s Independence Day speech, describing it as “empty”, “rhetorical” and “disappointing”.
Dalung, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), spoke on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief shortly after President Tinubu addressed the nation to mark Nigeria’s 66th Independence anniversary.
“Well, the president’s speech, let me begin by saying that it was rhetorical, wishful, ambitious, but very, very disappointing and empty,” the former minister said.
According to Dalung, the address should have focused more on accountability and concrete successes recorded by the Tinubu administration since taking office in 2023.
“Because I think a speech by the president at our 66th anniversary and he said three and a half years in office should have concentrated more on giving Nigerians accountability; [show] concrete successes recorded so far by the reforms in the last three and a half years,” he stated.
He added that the speech ought to have addressed pressing issues such as insecurity, agriculture, the economy, unemployment, hunger, poverty, and Nigeria’s foreign policy.
It should also have outlined progress made from independence in 1960 to the start of the current administration, and what has been achieved in the past three and a half years despite inherited challenges.
President Tinubu had urged Nigerians to be patient with his reforms, comparing the country to a cancer patient who must endure difficult treatment for recovery.
Dalung, who served under former President Muhammadu Buhari, accused the President of repeating the same messages since 2023.
“But all that the president has done was to tell Nigeria the same stories: ‘Oh, be patient and expect our reforms will yield.’ The question is, when shall the cancer victim recover? Because it does appear that the surgery has put him in a coma,” he said.
While acknowledging some economic growth figures, Dalung insisted they must translate into tangible improvements for ordinary citizens.
“So if we have recorded 4% economic growth, how has that been able to affect an average Nigerian? … How does that 4% affect the cost of transportation and the purchasing power of Nigerians?”
He described the speech as lacking connection with Nigerians and faulted the President for not adequately addressing insecurity, particularly the plight of those in captivity and ongoing attacks in places like Plateau State.