First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has revealed that her husband’s decision to run on a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket in 2023 left her isolated in her local church, describing the episode as a “bitter pill” that tested her faith and loyalty to her congregation.
Mrs. Tinubu made this disclosure in her newly launched 52-page memoir, The Journey of Grace: Giving Thanks in All Things, released to mark her 65th birthday. The book, structured into five chapters covering 2021 to 2025, contains a foreword by Dr. Folashade Olukoya of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries.
According to the First Lady, the decision by her husband, President Bola Tinubu, to pair with Kashim Shettima on a same-faith ticket was unpopular within her parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), one of Nigeria’s largest Pentecostal denominations.
“My being a Christian did not matter. My local Assembly was split,” she wrote, adding that some members of the church avoided her, while others showed open resentment.
She, however, noted that despite the hostility, several elders encouraged her with prayers, and the pastorate ensured she still felt welcome. “But I kept attending church, and I thank God I have grown from being a baby to a mature Christian. So, the little resentment I witnessed was met with the peace of God,” she stated.
The First Lady said she refused to abandon her 15-year membership at the RCCG, where she rose from a worker to an Assistant Pastor in 2018. “I have been a dedicated member since 2007… graduating from the Redeemed Bible College and later becoming a deaconess before my ordination as Assistant Pastor,” she added.
Mrs. Tinubu further revealed that some of her husband’s long-time allies withdrew support when he decided to run for president. She described the experience as painful but said she chose forgiveness, drawing lessons from the life of Jesus and scriptures such as 1 Thessalonians 5:18.
“I do not have anything against anyone. The Holy Spirit continually comforted me. If God decides to fight your battles and you have won, is there anything else left to fix? Nothing. So let it go,” she wrote.
The APC’s Muslim-Muslim ticket was one of the most contentious issues in Nigeria’s 2023 elections, with critics, including prominent Christian groups, warning that it could deepen religious divides. Defenders of the choice, however, argued that competence and political strategy should outweigh religion.
Despite the backlash, Tinubu went on to win the election, defeating Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party and Peter Obi of the Labour Party.
In her book, the First Lady said she has since made peace with her critics and remains committed to supporting her husband’s presidency and strengthening her faith. “I am at peace, doing all I can to make Nigeria better and greater,” she affirmed.
