Dayo Israel, National Youth Leader of the APC and the Convenor of the Mummy’s Men Movement asserted that every political journey has its visible protagonists the candidate, campaign rallies, crowds and, ultimately, the voters. But behind many political campaigns are individuals whose contributions are less visible yet influential.
Among them are political spouses who choose to remain actively engaged when the pressures of public life intensify.
For Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Nigeria’s First Lady, that role increasingly extends beyond simply standing beside President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Before becoming First Lady, Senator Tinubu had already established a political identity of her own, including her years in the Senate and her involvement in Nigeria’s political affairs.
The presidency has expanded her platform, and she has increasingly used it to engage women, youths and communities while supporting initiatives focused on empowerment, education, healthcare and social welfare.
Her approach contrasts with the more private model adopted by some political spouses internationally.
Former US First Lady Michelle Obama embraced an expansive public role during her husband’s presidency, developing initiatives of her own and using her visibility to champion social causes.
Melania Trump, on the other hand, maintained a more selective public presence during Donald Trump’s return to the US presidential campaign in 2024.
Senator Tinubu has chosen a more visible path.
She has travelled across the country, engaged with different groups and participated in programmes that place her directly within the country’s political and social conversation.
That visibility has also exposed her to criticism.
Her public statements have occasionally generated controversy, with remarks sometimes interpreted through partisan lenses or separated from the context in which they were made.
Yet she has continued to participate publicly.
For her supporters, that continued visibility demonstrates a willingness to remain engaged despite the scrutiny that accompanies public office.
Turning Influence Into Practical Support-One of the more visible aspects of Senator Tinubu’s activities is her use of influence to provide practical support for women and young people.
In June 2026, she announced the provision of vehicles to APC women leaders in Abia, Anambra, Bauchi, Osun and Oyo, particularly women operating in states where the party does not control the governorship.
The intervention highlights the importance of mobility in grassroots political organisation.
For women leaders seeking to reach communities, attend meetings and coordinate activities across their states, access to transportation can strengthen their ability to organise and maintain contact with supporters.
A similar argument applies to the presentation of nine buses to the APC National Youth Wing.
The buses provide young political organisers with additional capacity to travel, coordinate programmes and engage communities beyond established political centres.
They therefore represent more than transportation.
They provide organisational infrastructure for a youth structure expected to engage Nigerians across the country.
The First Lady’s activities have also extended beyond direct political mobilisation.
In May, she launched INSPIRE the Inclusive Network for Supporting Progressive Leadership, Innovation, Reform and Equity for Women aimed at supporting women’s leadership, inclusion and professional advancement within Nigeria’s Federal Civil Service.
Such initiatives place emphasis on building the capacity of others rather than simply increasing the visibility of the person providing the support.
From Admiration To Action-It is against this backdrop that the emergence of the Mummy’s Men Movement assumes significance.
The movement is built around a straightforward question: if the First Lady is playing her part, what should those inspired by her example be doing?
The answer is participation.
Rather than limiting support to praise, the movement seeks to encourage people who identify with Senator Tinubu’s activities to become active participants.
The concept reflects a broader multiplier effect.
When one person takes action, others can be inspired to participate, and that participation can eventually become organised civic or political engagement.
For supporters of the First Lady, the objective is therefore not simply to celebrate her activities but to encourage others to contribute to the broader political process.
A Role Beyond Being The President’s Wife-Reducing Senator Tinubu’s public role to that of the President’s wife, however, risks overlooking her individual political history.
She has her own experience in public office, her own interests and her own record of engagement.
Her decision to support her husband publicly does not necessarily erase that individuality.
Rather, she has chosen to use the platform that comes with her position to engage directly with Nigerians and support initiatives she considers important.
The comparison with other political spouses also demonstrates that there is no single model for supporting a political leader.
Some choose privacy and selective appearances, while others embrace visibility and public engagement.
Senator Tinubu has clearly opted for the latter.
That choice inevitably brings both praise and criticism.
But it also gives her an opportunity to influence public conversations and support people and structures around the presidency.
The Road To 2027-The road to an election is ultimately determined by votes, and those votes belong to Nigerians.
But political campaigns begin long before Election Day.
They are built through conversations across communities, engagements with women and young people, grassroots mobilisation and the strengthening of political structures.
For the APC, the interventions directed at women leaders and the youth wing can contribute to that grassroots effort ahead of the 2027 general election.
For Senator Tinubu’s supporters, her activities provide an example they believe is worth following.
This is the underlying argument behind the Mummy’s Men Movement: admiration should lead to participation.
The story of Senator Oluremi Tinubu’s role in the journey toward President Tinubu’s re-election is therefore not simply about a wife supporting her husband.
It is about a political figure with an established public history using her current platform to engage communities, support women, empower young people and strengthen structures around her.
Ultimately, Nigerians will determine the outcome of the 2027 election.
History will judge the Tinubu administration by its policies, achievements, shortcomings and impact on citizens.
But alongside that broader political history will be the story of those who contribute to the journey around the principal political actors.
Senator Oluremi Tinubu has chosen to make her contribution publicly.
And for those inspired by her example, the message is clear. “if Mummy is walking the road, they should not merely watch, they should walk too.”
Erizia Rubyjeana
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