By Abiola Olawale
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has debunked viral insinuations that his administration is being run by a rumoured cabal that purportedly helped him attain power in 2023.
Tinubu, who spoke while receiving a delegation of Islamic leaders led by Sheikh Bala Lau, at the State House on Thursday, asserted that his campaign was self-sponsored, without strings, or indebtedness to any individual or institution.
According to the President, his victory at the 2023 polls was purely by divine intervention, careful planning, and diligence in getting support from Nigerians.
He said: “I have no cabal. I have no sponsors. The money I spent on the elections won a 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.
Speaking on his plans, Tinubu said his administration is working on a social welfare scheme that would benefit all Nigerians.
He explained that the social welfare scheme will reach the ward level.
He continued: “We are reworking the social welfare scheme to reach the ward level, which is the closest to our people. We will 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. Consumer credit will support citizens in buying cars and houses, and they can repay them gradually.
“We have increased the minimum wage by more than 100 per cent.
Speaking on the planned nationwide protest Tinubu maintained that 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 added.
