NIGERIAN LEADERS CELEBRATED OVERSEAS, UNDERMINED LOCALLY – REMI TINUBU
Read Time:2 Minute, 19 Second
By: Fasasi Hammad
Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has said that many Nigerian leaders are widely respected and honoured internationally but are frequently criticised, abused and undervalued by citizens at home, a trend she attributed to hate-driven narratives and political manipulation.
Mrs Tinubu made the remarks in a post on her Facebook page on Friday, days after former United States President Donald Trump publicly described her as a “very respected woman” during the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, DC.
The annual event, attended by members of the US Congress, religious leaders and international guests, saw Trump single out the Nigerian First Lady while speaking on faith, leadership and global religious freedom. He acknowledged her presence and praised her dual role as Nigeria’s First Lady and an ordained pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the country’s largest Pentecostal churches.
“We’re honoured to be joined today by the First Lady of Nigeria, who also serves as a Christian pastor at the largest church in Nigeria. A very respected woman,” Trump said during the event.
Reacting to the recognition, Mrs Tinubu lamented what she described as a widening gap between the respect Nigerian leaders receive abroad and the hostility they face at home. She said many Nigerians have been influenced by persistent negative narratives promoted by political interests, which have fostered intolerance and resentment toward public office holders.
“Most of our leaders are highly respected and honoured abroad, yet many Nigerians fail to value what they have because of hatred and narratives planted in their minds by political paymasters,” she wrote.
The First Lady also criticised what she described as a culture of public ridicule and online abuse directed at Nigerian leaders, warning that such behaviour undermines national unity and progress.
“They are bullied, spoken ill of, demeaned, cursed and dragged across social media, with their mistakes seized upon for public ridicule and mockery,” she added.
Mrs Tinubu stressed that Nigeria’s strength lies in unity, mutual respect and collective effort, urging citizens to support their leaders rather than tear them down.
“Nigeria is built on love, unity and collective effort towards shared success. We must come together to support our respected leaders and work with them to make our country great,” she said.
Her comments come amid renewed international attention on Nigeria’s security situation, following claims by Trump and some US lawmakers that Christians in the country face widespread violence.
In late 2025, the United States designated Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” over alleged attacks on Christians, a move strongly rejected by the Nigerian government. The Federal Government described the designation as inaccurate and divisive, insisting that Nigeria’s security challenges stem from terrorism and criminality affecting citizens across religious and ethnic lines.
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