Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has pushed back against claims of a Christian genocide in Nigeria, attributing the country’s violence to terrorism, criminality, and longstanding instability, while also disclosing her own experience with religious bias.
She made the remarks during an interview with the Christian Broadcasting Network in Washington, where she addressed concerns about religious killings in Nigeria and the broader security situation ahead of the 2027 elections.
Responding to claims of systemic targeting of Christians, Tinubu said, “I don’t think so,” insisting that the violence is more complex than a single narrative.
“When you have terrorists and people kidnapping for money, and when the world is throwing in a narrative that is Christian genocide, terrorists will have hit on that and begin to attack churches,” she said.
The First Lady, an ordained Pentecostal pastor, also revealed she has personally faced criticism and threats due to her faith and marriage to President Bola Tinubu, a Muslim.
“There was a Muslim cleric that said I’m a heathen,” she said, adding, “Most of the people who spoke up for me are from the North.”
She noted that religious divisions in Nigeria are often more nuanced than widely portrayed, pointing to her nearly four decade interfaith marriage as an example of coexistence.
“If I’m going to enjoy my marriage, Jesus has to come in and give me that peace,” she said. “My husband is a good man.”
While dismissing the genocide label, Tinubu acknowledged the severity of insecurity in the country and welcomed international support in tackling terrorism.
“We thank President Trump for what he did for us,” she said, referencing U.S. military action against terrorist groups. “This was the first Christmas that no one was attacked.”
Nigeria has faced years of violence linked to insurgency, banditry, and communal conflicts, with thousands killed and millions displaced, fueling ongoing global debate over the nature and scale of religious persecution in the country.
Ademide Adebayo
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