— Replies Momodu: ‘I Have No Cabal, Sponsors To Compensate’
President Bola Tinubu has responded to criticism about his governance style and the ongoing economic reforms, asserting that he has “no cabal” or “sponsors to compensate.”
This comes in the wake of accusations from opposition figures, including Peoples Democratic Party chieftain, Dele Momodu, who linked Nigeria’s current economic crisis Tinubu’s alleged attempts to replicate the Lagos State governance model at the federal level.
Momodu had accused Tinubu of appointing cabinet members as a form of patronage, claiming that the president compensated friends and allies rather than appointing the most qualified candidates to ministerial positions.
“Today, God is my witness, if you ask me to name ten ministers in Tinubu’s cabinet and to tell you what they did or did not do before they were appointed, I will struggle,” Momodu said.
“That is the truth. Look, what we have today is that someone transferred the Lagos template to Abuja and that’s why we are failing.
“Nigeria parades some of the greatest human beings on planet earth. I have travelled a bit. There is nowhere up to Australia that I did not meet Nigerians doing great things. Where are those people?
“In today’s Nigeria, it’s either you are the son of, the daughter of… Nigeria cannot continue to operate on the basis of compensation. I must compensate my friends and former schoolmates. No!”
But speaking during a meeting with Islamic leaders at the State House on Thursday, Tinubu said his campaign was self-funded and free from obligations to any individual or cabal.
“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.
“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,’’ he stated stated.
Tinubu’s remarks appear to be a direct rebuttal to Momodu who claimed in a televised interview earlier this week that Tinubu appointed cabinet members based on personal connections rather than merit,
Defending his administration’s approach, Tinubu outlined several initiatives aimed at addressing economic challenges.
They include reworking the social welfare scheme to reach ward levels, introducing student loans, and implementing consumer credit programs to support citizens in purchasing cars and houses.
The president also mentioned the recent increase in the minimum wage by over 100 percent.
‘We’re Talking Of Hunger, Not Burials’
He further cautioned against what he termed “premature politics” and “politics of hate and anger” by those calling for protests against his administration.
“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,’’ Tinubu told the religious leaders at the meeting attended by Vice President Kashim Shettima.