President Bola Tinubu has allayed fears of manipulation by any interest group in the ongoing economic reforms, saying his campaign was self-sponsored, without strings, or indebtedness to any individual or institution.
The President, who received a delegation of Islamic leaders led by Sheikh Bala Lau, at the State House on Thursday, said his victory at the polls was purely by divine intervention, careful planning, and diligence in getting support from Nigerians.
“I have no cabal. I have no sponsors. The money I spent on the elections was my personal fortune. At some point, the odds were against me; banks were locked. But Allah, the Almighty God, said I will be the President. Mine is to now follow the leading and teaching of the Almighty God.
“One of the most potent elements of defence is a good conscience. It is also a defence against corruption.
“What should be uppermost in our minds is the future of our children. We have a lot to teach them on what it takes to be a good citizen and what it takes to be a responsible citizen,’’ the President stated.
President Tinubu said protests, fuelled by anger and hate, could degenerate into violence and set the country backwards.
“We are reworking the social welfare scheme to reach the ward level, which is the closest to our people. We are going to ensure that we re-establish connection with the wards, again, so that we can give allowances to the poor and the vulnerable.
“The student loans will pay for school fees. There will be monetary support for the education of our children. The consumer credit will support citizens to buy cars and houses, and they can repay gradually.
“We have increased the minimum wage by more than 100 percent,’’ the President said.
President Tinubu said the sponsors of protests place their selfish ambitions above the national interest.
“The sponsors of protests do not love our country. They have no love for the nation. They do not understand citizenship. They have alternative passports.
“They are in different parts of the world holding meetings virtually.
“We do not want to turn Nigeria into Sudan. We are talking about hunger, not burials. We have to be careful. We should be careful with premature politics; politics of hate, and anger.
“The internet has made it possible to hold meetings in artificial settings. They hold meetings and sponsor anger,’’ the President told the religious leaders.
In his remarks, the leader of the delegation, Sheikh Bala Lau, assured the President of support with prayers and more sensitization.
“Peace is paramount for us in the country. The first thing Abraham asked God for was peace and guidance,’’ Sheikh Lau noted.
The issue here is that they still think the protest is fuelled by political differences. it is fuelled by hunger and penury!! See them running upandan and looking for who to blame.
ReplyDeleteWe do not want allowances, we do not want loans. We just want to be able to afford our basic needs like we used to do.
Like I said yesterday, they are scared of the wrong protest, the real one will start from the North bcos those guys are badly affected. Their children are dying of starvation.
Make them continue to live in lala land...They know the truth of the protest but they just don't want to do the right thing...People that protested in 2012 are telling us not to...They had to use same tactics in the 2023 election (Oro Festival) to scare people away...You can imagine!!
DeleteYour last sentence that you made, a political analyst mentioned this 8 years ago that the real one will start from the North...These people think we are interested in their political jingoism...
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DeleteThat's the problem with Nigerian leaders. The constant need to politicize everything and playing blame games.
DeleteWhat are the people complaining of ? Hunger , lack of basic amenities, inflation and poverty.
If I were him, I'll reverse the policy on subsidy. Once the price of fuel goes down, many commodities will be affected. Ensure that farmers have enough seedlings and fertilisers to cut hunger.
Ensure the gradual employment of qualified youths into relevant agencies and support small scale businesses. Reduce the tax levies and increase the purchasing power of the masses.
This isn't rocket science!
You're right 👌
DeleteWe do not want survival minimum wage we want a better government/Nigeria.
Why are they all afraid of the upcoming protest?
ReplyDeleteI don't know o, let them do the needful, mbanu.
DeleteYou gaaann one man cabal
ReplyDeleteThey should just accept the protest in good faith and provide security for the protester so that those who will come with violence will be prevented and arrested.
ReplyDeleteOK Mr President. 🙄🙄🙄
ReplyDeleteSince the day you stepped in as the president, people has been crying for suffering and starvation and all you do is blaming and looking for fault where there's none.
ReplyDeleteDey play!🙁
Okay Mr Presido
ReplyDeleteI have heard ..
Hello iya boys
It I well with the masses. May God come through for everyone
ReplyDelete