Dele Momodu, the renowned publisher of Ovation Magazine, has voiced his profound disappointment and disbelief regarding the President’s address. Momodu took to social media shortly after the speech to express his shock and frustration, emphasizing the President’s failure to address the core demands of the ongoing protests.
Momodu’s reaction to the broadcast was candid and direct. In his post on X (formerly Twitter), he conveyed his dismay with the following remarks: “After the long-awaited speech of President Bola Tinubu eventually came this morning, I’m sure most of you would be as stupefied as me.”
The Ovation Magazine publisher acknowledged that he harbored minimal expectations of significant concessions from President Tinubu. Reflecting on the President’s long tenure as a dominant force in Lagos State, Momodu suggested that Tinubu’s entrenched approach and the loyalist nature of his advisers—many of whom have been his staunch supporters from Lagos—likely influenced the lackluster nature of the address.
Momodu further remarked, “I must confess that I had little hope of Tinubu granting some concessions to the aggrieved Nigerians. As a man who has held an iron grip on Lagos State for the last 25 years, it would be difficult for him to change a winning formula that has worked for him ever since.”
He continued with a pointed critique, noting that the advisers surrounding President Tinubu are largely composed of individuals who are unlikely to challenge him, thus perpetuating a cycle of unchallenged decisions. “Also, what did we expect his advisers to be telling him when most of them have been his most fanatical cronies from Lagos who have learnt never to challenge the master?”
Momodu’s commentary highlights a broader sense of disillusionment among some Nigerians who were hoping for a more responsive and reformative stance from the President in addressing the public’s grievances. His reaction underscores the ongoing tension between the government and the populace, as well as the expectations for substantive changes in the face of widespread discontent.
In summary, Dele Momodu’s response to President Tinubu’s broadcast serves as a stark reminder of the significant gap between political rhetoric and the pressing realities faced by ordinary Nigerians.
