How I felt when some Christians refused to accept 2023 presidential election results – Tinubu’s wife

Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has opened up about her emotional struggles following the 2023 presidential election, revealing that the refusal of some Christians to accept the outcome left her feeling fearful, isolated, and doubtful about her readiness for national service.

In her newly released 52-page memoir, The Journey of Grace: Giving Thanks in All Things, published to mark her 65th birthday, Mrs Tinubu said she battled feelings of betrayal and uncertainty in the tense weeks before her husband’s inauguration as President.

The five-chapter book, which chronicles events from 2021 to 2025, features a foreword written by Dr. Folashade Olukoya of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries.

Reflecting on her state of mind at the time, the First Lady admitted she felt unprepared for the demands of her new role.

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“As for me, I had a lot of mixed feelings, questioning my readiness and capability to function effectively and optimally as the First Lady of so great a nation as ours.A nation with over 240 million people from diverse cultures, ethnicities, languages, religions, etc.For days, I isolated, pondering on my ability to play the supportive and complementary role without messing up,” she recounted.

Mrs Tinubu said the days after the election were particularly difficult, marked by tears and disappointment over perceived betrayals by friends and allies.

“After all the elections in 2023, preceding the inaugural day of May 29, 2023, healing of the hearts began. Some Nigerians from various spheres, especially Christians, continued to refuse to accept the Presidential results.Despite the victory, I felt alone, weeping behind closed doors and wondering why I was betrayed by some of those I considered friends and spiritual family, many of whom I had opened up my home and my family to.While for some, God used them to comfort and reassure me of God’s purpose in all of this,” she wrote.

She also admitted to moments of self-pity and doubt about her spiritual strength.

“If you say, occasionally, I had a pity party, you are right, I really did. I thought about who to reach out to for support and counselling.It is good to have a spiritual guide, parent, teacher, mentor, as the case may be. I had one, who is a teacher and a mentor, who constantly reminds me of God’s promises and purpose for my life.”

The First Lady said the voices of critics briefly shook her confidence until she was reminded of her divine purpose.

“Somewhere along the way, I forgot because the drowning voices of some naysayers clouded my reasoning for that moment. Until I was reminded of all God has spoken over my life, all over again,” she added.

Her reflections come nearly three years after one of Nigeria’s most contentious elections, in which President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress secured 8.79 million votes to defeat Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party and Peter Obi of the Labour Party.

Although the results were upheld by the courts, the First Lady disclosed that the political battle took a personal toll, leaving her to confront isolation within her church community and strained friendships.

“One of such decisions was the unpopular ‘Muslim/Muslim ticket’. My being a Christian did not matter. My local Assembly, Redeemed Christian Church of God, was split,” she recounted.

She said the episode exposed the diversity of political views within the church.

“I later realised that we are a church like other churches with members of all political parties in attendance.I experienced this during my campaign in 2011 for the Senate, when I took my campaign posters to the church, and it was rebuffed. After that, I never tried again.But my husband’s bid for the Presidential Office was different, a bitter pill for them to chew.”

Mrs Tinubu wrote that despite the challenges, she chose to focus on her responsibilities ahead of her husband’s swearing-in and the creation of her own social initiative.

“It was now time to move on and start planning what to do that would benefit our people; also, to prepare for the inauguration and mend body, soul and spirit,” she wrote.

According to her, the Renewed Hope Initiative was conceived to complement her husband’s agenda through programmes in five key sectors: agriculture, economic empowerment, education, health, and social investment.

She also revealed her attention to personal details for the inauguration day, recalling her preference for traditional royal fabrics like Alari and Etu.

“Most of the ones made were not what I wanted; I wanted a traditional fabric worn by royalty in the day (Alari or Etu).A good friend of ours brought me a set just barely a week before the Big Day.My dressmaker swung into action, and in a few days, I had the outfit I wore. For the remaining activities, old clothing from my closet came in handy,” she stated.