Sponsors of planned protest hate Nigeria, hold passports of other nations – Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu has said citizens sponsoring the planned protests in the country do not love the country and hold passports of other nations.

The President stated this on Thursday at the Presidential Villa ,while receiving a delegation of Islamic leaders led by Sheikh Bala Lau.

He, however, did not mention any sponsor, he warned against turning Nigeria into other African nations that have not recovered from unrest or civl war.

“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,” Tinubu was quoted as saying in a statement by presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale.

“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 argued that protests, fuelled by anger and hate, could degenerate into violence and set the country backward.

During the meeting, the President allayed fears of manipulation by any interest group in the ongoing economic reforms.

He maintained that his campaign was self-sponsored, without strings, or indebtedness to any individual or institution.

“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,” the President stated.