Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has explained that her donation of N1 billion to the victims of violent attacks in Plateau State, is driven by love, not politics.
Mrs Tinubu, who made the declaration on Thursday, spoke at the Government House in Rayfield, Jos.
She said the funds were raised through her Renewed Hope Initiative and not sourced from government coffers.
“This visit is one filled with mixed emotions for me. I came here first as a mother whose heart bleeds each time I hear about killings, violence, or bloodshed.
“It took me some time to respond, but I want to assure you that this will be the last time I will respond to such a situation in Plateau State. I pray that God will honour this, and from now on, it shall be for the progress of the state,” she said.
Tinubu said she had met with the governor two days earlier to express her desire to meet traditional rulers and religious leaders in the state.
“Today, I have come with a donation of one billion naira for the Renewed Hope Initiative. I do not have vast sums of money, but what I have is meant to bring life, not to pour money into a basket.
“If I kept money for personal gain, it would only serve to satisfy greed. But my goal is to use the resources I have for good, for the development of this country, not to waste them,” she said.
The First Lady also made a passionate appeal to Plateau men to protect their communities.
“When I arrived at the airport, I remember the little girl who came to greet me with a bowl of fruits and vegetables, saying, ‘Welcome to the land of peace and tourism’. I knew at that moment that God had already spoken because, as the Bible says, “Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings, God has ordained perfect praise.” From the mouth of this child, there shall be peace in this land. Amen.
“When Mr President decided to revert to the old national anthem this year, it brought back memories of the anthem that instilled patriotism and love for this land. When we hear the second stanza, “To hand on to our children a banner,” we must reflect on our actions and the legacy we leave behind. But when we look at the killings, the rapes, and the terror, we must ask ourselves: have we truly protected our land?” she stated.