President Bola Tinubu has addressed concerns about potential manipulation by interest groups in his administration’s ongoing economic reforms.
While addressing Islamic leaders at the State House on Thursday, Tinubu stressed that his election campaign was entirely self-funded, free from obligations to any individual or institution.
Mr Tinubu, according to a statement by his spokesman, Chief Ajuri Ngelale, dismissed fears of manipulation by interest groups.
He said his electioneering was without a ‘’string or indebtedness’’ to any individual or institution.
He stated that “Allah, the Almighty God, said I will be the President’’ even when banks were ‘’locked against him at some point.’’
He said, “I have no cabal. I have no sponsors. The money I spent on the elections was my 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.”
Speaking on the planned nationwide protest by angry Nigerian youths, president Tinubu noted the importance of a clear conscience as a potent defence against corruption.
He warned that the protest which, according to him, is fuelled by anger and hate, could degenerate into violence capable of setting the country backwards.
He said, “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,’’
“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.’’
Also, he highlighted the need to prioritise the future of Nigerian children by teaching them good citizenship and responsibility.
He also pinpointed the efforts of his administration to minimise the hardship face by the citizenry.
