Independence Day: Nigeria Was Like Cancer Patient on Morphine Until We Came – Tinubu

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has likened Nigeria’s economic situation before his administration to that of a cancer patient on morphine, saying successive governments treated only the symptoms while allowing the underlying challenges to worsen.

Tinubu made the remark in his 66th Independence Anniversary broadcast to Nigerians on Wednesday, where he defended the economic reforms introduced by his administration.

He said by 2023, poverty was rising and hope was “nearly gone,” adding that the situation had become too dire for the government to avoid decisive action.

“Nigeria was like a sick patient who receives the terrible news that he has cancer. His doctor explains that the treatment will be difficult and painful, but that it offers a strong prospect of recovery.

“The patient has a choice. He can begin treatment, endure its discomfort and fight the disease. Or he can ask only for morphine, dull the pain and leave the cancer to spread,” the President said.

Tinubu said Nigeria’s leaders had for too long chosen “morphine” while waiting for a miracle that never came, instead of confronting the country’s structural problems.

“For too long, Nigeria’s leaders chose morphine while praying for a miracle that never came.

“They focused on symptoms while allowing the disease to take hold deep within the fabric of our society. We spent enormous sums sustaining inefficient arrangements that were never intended to last. We hid from difficult truths and passed the consequences from one generation to the next,” he stated.

He said his administration resolved to take a different approach upon assuming office.

“When this administration assumed office, we resolved to do things differently. We chose to excise the cancer,” Tinubu said.

The President acknowledged that the reforms have been painful and caused hardship, but noted that the difficulties should not be confused with the problems the reforms were designed to address.