The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has finally broken silence on the corruption allegations levelled against him in the past months.
Tinubu while speaking during an interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), explained how he made his money.
The presidential candidate claimed his wealth was made through real estate, adding that he would not deny his wealth.
Over the past months, Tinubu has been enmeshed in corruption controversies as he was alleged to have made his wealth through hard drugs and other shading dealings while governing Lagos between 1999 and 2007.
Tinubu was also alleged to be part of a drug cartel in the United States in the 1980s.
Speaking for the first time since the allegations broke out, Tinubu said those questioning his source of wealth or asking questions about him are envious, maintaining that his source of wealth, has actually been through real estate.
Throwing more light on this, Tinubu stated that if the people, who questioned his sources of riches were not enemies of wealth, they should stop criticising him.
In his words, “I inherited great real estate and I turned the value around,” he said, stating that he remained the most investigated Nigerian politician till date.
“I have not taken government appointment, no government contract,” Tinubu said, adding that, the allegation that he was in charge of the revenues accruing to Lagos remained unproven, and that he has been investigated several times without any dirt, saying, “It’s envy”.
“You ought to know how to analyse and how to ask questions, not in the opposite format. Are they enemies of wealth? If they are not enemies of wealth, investment does yield. I have an example of Warren Buffett and one of the richest men in America and in the world, he started from stock buying and brokerages. I inherited great real estate, I turned the values around.
“I’m not denying my wealth, I was the most investigated, the most accused governor in opposition for 8 years and up till 2007. And since I left the office, I have not taken any government appointment, no government contract.”
Reacting to allegation of getting a share of revenue accruing to Lagos State, Tinubu said, “Excuse me, share what? Have they proven it? The World Bank… IMF has investigated the record in Lagos, what’s wrong with them? It is envy.”
Speaking on why Nigerians should elected him into office in 2023, Tinubu said, “I’m different. I am Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I have governed Lagos, I built a modern state that could be a country on its own. I have led an administration that is so prudent. From N600 million internally generated revenue to N5 billion a month. That’s a record, nobody else can brag about that.
“I have tamed the Atlantic ocean surge in Nigeria that would have perished many people in Lagos, the infrastructural renewal of Lagos is excellent. I have continuity in Lagos,” he added.
