Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, says her relationship with people who do not know God does not last long and highlighted her nearly 40-year interfaith marriage with President Bola Tinubu as an example of religious harmony.
Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, on Thursday evening said her relationship with anyone who does not know God does not last long, while emphasising the importance of religious harmony in the country. She spoke while hosting an interfaith breaking of fast event combining Iftar and Lent at the Old Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja, attended by women leaders from different religious backgrounds.
The First Lady, who is married to President Bola Tinubu, reflected on their nearly four decades of interfaith marriage, noting that mutual respect had sustained their relationship. She said: “Today, like I said, is indeed a great day. It is a day that God only made for us to gather together, and for women, first, from different backgrounds. Since the Ramadan fast was announced, and the Lenten season began together, it was like God was speaking to us as a nation.” She added: “Me, almost 40 years. And I can tell you, I cannot remember when both of us raised our voices at each other. Maybe not more than twice in the 40 years, I can tell you that. So we’ve been quite mature and respectful about that. And I believe that’s the best way to live together.”
She also addressed rising tensions in the country that often take on religious colouration, urging Nigerians to reject divisions and embrace peaceful coexistence. According to her, “Recently, we know a lot of things have been going on and people are trying to target towards our religious beliefs… And we Nigerians, we know that most of the time that is not the case. Some of us are married to men of different faith, and we lived together among us for many years.” She further encouraged women to serve as role models in raising the younger generation and called for service with “excellence, compassion, and integrity.”
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