President Bola Tinubu has asserted that he spent his own personal wealth on his successful election campaign, and that he has no cabal or special interests to compensate.
Receiving a delegation of Islamic leaders led by Sheikh Bala Lau at the State House on Thursday, Tinubu expressed confidence that his victory was a divine intervention, not the result of manipulation by any group.
"I have no cabal. I have no sponsors. The money I spent on the elections was my personal fortune," the President stated. "At some point, the odds were against me; banks were locked. But Allah, the Almighty God, said I will be the President."
Tinubu sought to allay fears of undue influence in his ongoing economic reforms, insisting that his campaign was self-sponsored and free of any strings or indebtedness.
The President warned that protests fueled by "anger and hate" could degenerate into violence and set the country backwards. He accused the sponsors of such protests of prioritizing their selfish ambitions over the national interest.
Tinubu highlighted his administration's plans to rework the social welfare scheme, provide student loans and consumer credit, as well as increase the minimum wage by more than 100 percent.
Sheikh Bala Lau, speaking on behalf of the delegation, assured the President of their support through prayers and further sensitization efforts.