Video: Tinubu Reveals How ₦50,000 Request Nearly Made Him Quit 2023 Presidential Race

President Bola Tinubu has recalled how a close acquaintance shook his belief that he could win the 2023 election.

He said, however, that determination and supporters’ encouragement kept him in the race.

Naija News reports that the President made the disclosure in a video while reflecting on his political journey,

Tinubu said an acquaintance visited his residence in the early hours of the morning to ask for financial assistance.

According to him, the visitor told him that the country was facing severe economic difficulties and questioned why he was seeking the presidency when people were struggling to access cash.

“One of them walked up to my living room at about 3:30 in the morning during the campaign and said he needed only ₦50,000 to take to our uncle because they had no foodstuff,” Tinubu recalled.

He said the visitor then questioned his decision to run for president, telling him: “You stand, you sit there, the currency is gone because of you. No currency to cash. People are jumping the counter in the banks and all of that. Your uncle is wealthy and has no ₦10,000. What are you running for?”

Tinubu said he responded that he was running for the presidency, not for himself or his family.

“I said, ‘For President. I’m not running for my uncle, I’m not running for me, for President.’”

After receiving the requested ₦50,000, the visitor told him before leaving, “I don’t think you’ll make it.”

Tinubu said he remained confident, responding: “Sure, I’ll make it. I said, you come to me when I make it, you’ll ask me for a job, I won’t give you

The President said he later learnt that the money had reached his uncle, who gave ₦10,000 to his cousin.

Tinubu admitted that the incident briefly shook his confidence in continuing the presidential race.

“I was amazed. I almost dropped the idea of running, of continuing the race,” he said.

He, however, credited the support of political allies, particularly Ibrahim Masari, for strengthening his resolve.

“With determination saying I came to Abuja, and Masari led a group and said, ‘Okay, I’m the chairman of the Northwest group.’ He said, ‘Don’t look back. We know you, and Nigerians know you.’”

“That’s all the tonic that was necessary,” Tinubu said.

The President also acknowledged God’s role in his political journey, saying his eventual success would not have been possible without divine grace.

“We are here. Nigeria is a great nation. And I’m very, very grateful to all of you here tonight. Grateful to Almighty God for what He has done for me personally.

“It wouldn’t have been possible without the grace of God, the blessing of it,” he said.