How church members avoided me over Muslim-Muslim ticket – Remi Tinubu

Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has revealed that her husband’s decision to run on a Muslim-Muslim ticket in the 2023 presidential election left her isolated in her local church and tested her faith.

In her newly released 52-page memoir, *The Journey of Grace: Giving Thanks in All Things*, published to mark her 65th birthday, Mrs Tinubu described the period as a “bitter pill” that divided her parish at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

“One of such decisions was the unpopular Muslim/Muslim ticket. My being a Christian did not matter. My local assembly, RCCG, was split,” she wrote.

Despite the tensions, she said she remained in the church, where she had worshipped for 15 years and risen through the ranks to become an Assistant Pastor in 2018. “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 from a few was met with the peace of God,” she wrote, adding that some members encouraged her with prayers even when others distanced themselves.

The All Progressives Congress’ same-faith ticket in 2022 sparked widespread debate in Nigeria’s religiously diverse society. Critics, including Christian leaders, warned it could inflame divisions, while supporters argued that competence and political strategy should determine leadership choices. The last comparable instance was the Social Democratic Party’s 1993 ticket of Moshood Abiola and Babagana Kingibe.

Tinubu went on to win the February 2023 election alongside Vice President Kashim Shettima, defeating Atiku Abubakar of the PDP and Peter Obi of the Labour Party.

In her book, Mrs Tinubu also addressed feelings of betrayal by some of her husband’s allies, noting that many who she thought would back his candidacy were reluctant. She said she has since chosen forgiveness, drawing strength from scripture. “If God decides to fight your battles and you have won, is there any other thing that God missed and you wanted to fix? Nothing, so let it go,” she wrote.

The First Lady said her political journey has been guided by faith, adding that thanksgiving, forgiveness, and trust in God helped her overcome the hostility she faced during the campaign. “I am at peace, doing all I can to make Nigeria better and greater,” she concluded.