In a scathing critique that reads more like a tragicomedy than a political commentary, Mahdi Shehu, a vocal critic of the current Nigerian administration, took to his official X (formerly Twitter) handle to dissect President Bola Tinubu’s October 1st speech. Titled “TINUBU’S 1ST OCTOBER SPEECH: BACK TO SENDER,” Shehu’s post pulls no punches in its sharp analysis, comparing the speech to a fictional tale designed to mislead rather than inspire.
1. A Fictional Masterpiece
Shehu begins by comparing the President’s speech to the works of James Hadley Chase, the famed British author known for his fictional crime thrillers. “Just like any of James Hardy Chase’s novels, it is purely fictional,” Shehu quips, implying that the promises and claims in Tinubu’s address were as contrived as the plot twists in Chase’s novels.
2. Tragedy of a Nation’s Choice
Shehu didn’t stop at fiction. He likened the speech to the tragic moment when the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced Bola Tinubu as the winner of the controversial 2023 elections. To him, the speech was a continuation of the “tragic farce” that began on election night, a night that millions of Nigerians still grapple with.
3. A Laughable Spectacle
The critique turned even more theatrical as Shehu described the speech as laughable. “It’s like a drama performed in the dark for angels and spirits to watch and interpret,” he said, hinting at the speech’s detachment from the reality Nigerians face daily. According to him, the promises made could only make sense in an ethereal realm, far removed from the struggles of ordinary citizens.
4. Tragicomic Echoes from Hamlet
Referencing Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Shehu went on to label the speech “hitorical-comical, comical-historical, tragical-comical-historical,” invoking Polonius, the Lord Chamberlain in the play. To Shehu, Tinubu’s address was not only historically significant but also comical and tragically flawed, much like a scene from a Shakespearean play where the audience is left unsure whether to laugh or weep.
5. Tales by Moonlight
Comparing the speech to bedtime stories told during Nigeria’s traditional “tales by moonlight,” Shehu described it as a narrative meant to lull the populace into sleep rather than awaken any real hope. He accused the president of using rhetoric to deceive Nigerians, stringing together comforting words that serve no real purpose beyond delaying the inevitable harsh realities.
6. An Avalanche of Lies and Empty Promises
According to Shehu, the speech was filled with outright lies, distortions of facts, empty promises, and wishful thinking. “The speech is full of semantics, empty claims, and wishful aspirations,” he declared. For Shehu, the address was nothing more than a collection of lofty words that failed to resonate with the suffering masses, particularly given the economic and social challenges Nigeria currently faces.
7. A Disconnect from the People
“There is a total disconnect between Tinubu and millions of Nigerians,” Shehu stated unequivocally. Despite attempts at persuasion, Shehu believes no amount of rhetoric can make Nigerians believe in or trust their president. The profound mistrust, he argued, is rooted in the administration’s failure to address pressing national concerns.
8. The Harsh Realities of Governance
In his final blow, Shehu invoked a list of controversies that continue to plague the current administration—ranging from the National Nigerian Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) issues to the purchase of a new plane and Cadillac for the president, as well as his son, Seyi Tinubu, allegedly attending Federal Executive Council (FEC) meetings. “Every time we remember these things,” Shehu wrote, “we simply say our constant prayers in different languages, such as ‘ALLAH YA ISA’ in Hausa,” meaning, “God is the ultimate judge.”
Mahdi Shehu’s cutting remarks captured the growing frustration and skepticism surrounding the leadership of President Tinubu. For many Nigerians, his October 1st speech was a missed opportunity to address real concerns and offer tangible solutions, leaving citizens to rely on faith for justice and change.
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