Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has said she finds it difficult to maintain close relationships with people who do not have a sense of reverence for God.
She also revealed that throughout her nearly four decades of marriage to President Bola Tinubu, who is a Muslim, she cannot recall a time when the two of them had serious arguments or raised their voices at each other.
Mrs. Tinubu made the remarks on Thursday night while hosting an interfaith breaking of fast to mark both the Ramadan and Lenten seasons at the Old Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The event brought together Muslim and Christian leaders, as well as wives of state governors, to promote unity and peaceful coexistence among Nigerians of different religious backgrounds.
Addressing the gathering, the First Lady stressed the importance of harmony among people of different faiths and highlighted the role women play in shaping the values of younger generations.
Speaking during the period when the Muslim fasting season and the Christian Lenten observance overlap, she described the moment as symbolic, suggesting it carried a message of unity for the country.
She noted that attempts are sometimes made to frame national tensions along religious lines, but insisted that such divisions do not reflect the everyday realities of many Nigerian families.
According to her, numerous households in the country consist of people from different religious backgrounds who have managed to live peacefully together for many years. She cited her own marriage as an example, saying she and the President have maintained mutual respect despite their differing faiths.
Mrs. Tinubu said that throughout their nearly 40 years together, disagreements rarely escalated into arguments, noting that both of them have always handled their differences with maturity and respect.
She added that such understanding is key for people of different beliefs who choose to live together.
The First Lady also encouraged Nigerians to avoid a sense of religious entitlement, particularly among Christians who might assume that their faith alone is enough.
Quoting the Bible, she stressed that reverence for God remains the foundation of wisdom and said she prefers to deal with people who approach life with that sense of accountability.
Mrs. Tinubu further called on women to take greater responsibility in mentoring younger people, urging them to pass on meaningful knowledge and values that would help build a stronger society.
Also speaking at the event, a Director at the National Open University of Nigeria, Prof. Ganiyat Adejoke Adesina-Uthman, addressed the issue of declining public trust in leadership.
Delivering a lecture titled “Serving with excellence, compassion, and integrity in public life,” she emphasised that integrity must remain a core value for anyone occupying a position of responsibility.
