Giwa, a prominent real estate entrepreneur, made the comments in a video that has since gone viral, where he openly defended his support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and explained why he believes politics is deeply intertwined with business success in the country.
Addressing critics who have accused him of betraying Nigerians by supporting the current administration, the businessman argued that opposing political leaders in positions of power could have serious consequences for entrepreneurs and investors.
According to him, any businessperson who ignores the influence of politics on commercial success in Nigeria is being unrealistic.
“Anybody doing business in Nigeria who does not think that politics is part and parcel of their success in doing business in Nigeria has no business doing business in Nigeria,” Giwa said.
The billionaire questioned why he should risk his livelihood and investments by openly confronting political authorities.
“A lot of people are angry that I support Tinubu and call me a traitor. What exactly do you want me to do? Do you want me to join you and point fingers at the very person who can snap a finger and everything I have worked hard for is gone?” he asked.
“Are you going to feed me after that? Are you going to take care of my children? Are you going to send my children to private school?” he said.
His comments became even more controversial when he declared that he was unconcerned about whether Nigeria improves as a country, insisting that his personal circumstances remain comfortable regardless of the nation’s fortunes.
“Whether Nigeria gets better or not, I am perfectly okay; in fact, I am banking on it not getting better. Your prayer is different from my prayer,” he stated.
The businessman also made a startling confession regarding his personal beliefs, saying he had accepted the possibility of facing eternal damnation if the concept of hell exists.
“I have come to the acceptance that I am going to hell if it exists. I have no doubt about that because there are things that I do that warrant hellfire,” he said.
In another remark that generated intense reactions online, Giwa revealed what he described as a strict company policy regarding employees who rely solely on faith after making mistakes at work.
According to him, workers who respond to errors by saying “God will provide” risk losing their jobs immediately.
“One thing I have as a general rule in my company, if you make a mistake of saying God will provide, I will sack you, instantly,” he declared.
The comments have since triggered mixed reactions among Nigerians, with some defending his pragmatic approach to business and politics, while others condemned his statements as insensitive and reflective of a troubling attitude toward national development and faith.
As discussions continue across social media platforms, Giwa’s remarks have once again highlighted the ongoing debate about the relationship between business interests, political power, and civic responsibility in Nigeria.