President Bola Tinubu has reassured the public that his ongoing economic reforms are independent and not influenced by any interest group, emphasizing that his campaign was self-sponsored and free from any strings or indebtedness to individuals or institutions.
The President made these remarks while receiving a delegation of Islamic leaders led by Sheikh Bala Lau at the State House on Thursday. He attributed his election victory to divine intervention, strategic planning, and the support of 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,” President Tinubu stated.
Addressing the delegation, he highlighted the importance of a clear conscience as a defense against corruption and stressed the need to focus on the future of Nigerian children.
President Tinubu warned against protests fueled by anger and hate, which he said could lead to violence and set the country back. He announced the government’s efforts to rework the social welfare scheme to reach the ward level, providing allowances to the poor and vulnerable, student loans for school fees, and consumer credit for citizens to buy cars and houses.
He condemned the motives of protest sponsors, accusing them of placing selfish ambitions above 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.”
Sheikh Bala Lau, on behalf of the delegation, assured the President of their support through prayers and more sensitization.
“Peace is paramount for us in the country. Abraham first asked God for peace and guidance,” he noted.
Traditional rulers, who were also part of the meeting, called for calm over the planned nationwide protest against economic hardship, scheduled to begin on August 1, 2024. The protest has gained traction on social media, raising concerns about potential violence.
“We will listen to our youths because they lead the future. The power and the strength of Nigeria are certainly with the young people,” said the Dein of Agbor, HRM Benjamin Keagborekuzi.
“We feel your pain. I’m a young person myself. It’s been 24 years that I’ve been back and it’s been 24 years that I’ve sadly seen the nation going in a very unpalatable direction. But by God’s grace, I think if you would give us the chance, this protest, I know that it’s catching you very, very high in the net. But if you give us the chance, let us not destroy our own country.”
The Emir of Zazzau, Ahmed Bamalli, also urged patience and called on citizens to heed the wisdom of traditional rulers and governors.
“Well, the message we are taking back to our people is to be calm, to exercise patience, and also to listen to the words of wisdom coming from the traditional rulers and from the governors because we have spoken to the President and he has given us the blueprint of what he has been doing over time,” he said.
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, echoed these sentiments, cautioning against the protest being hijacked.
“We traditional rulers are not engaged in people, especially the youth coming out to start looting to start breaking down law and order. We are parents, we are traditional rulers, we are closer to them,” he said.
“We are going to go back home and continue to engage them. It is very difficult to build, but it is the easiest to destroy. We are all stakeholders in this country. We should be stronger as a nation together, than stronger individually.”
The President’s efforts to avert the planned protest come amidst severe criticism of his administration’s policies, particularly the removal of fuel subsidies and the floating of the naira, which have significantly increased the cost of living.
While the administration has introduced measures such as a new minimum wage and the distribution of palliatives, many argue these have yet to adequately address the challenges.
Security agencies have warned that the planned protest, organized by faceless groups, may be hijacked by criminal elements and turn violent, reminiscent of the EndSARS protest of 2020. Despite this, proponents insist on the citizens’ right to protest perceived government mistreatment.