Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has expressed concern over what she described as a growing trend in which Nigerian leaders are widely respected internationally but frequently criticised, abused and undervalued by citizens at home.
Mrs Tinubu made the remarks in a Facebook post on Friday, days after U.S. President Donald Trump publicly described her as a “very respected woman” during the National Prayer Breakfast held in Washington, D.C.
The annual gathering, attended by members of the U.S. Congress, religious leaders and international guests, saw Trump acknowledge the Nigerian First Lady while speaking on faith, leadership and global religious freedom. He highlighted 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 denominations.
“We’re honoured to be joined today by the First Lady of Nigeria, who also happens to serve 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 said many Nigerians have been influenced by negative narratives allegedly driven by political interests, which she believes have contributed to hostility toward leaders.
“Most of our leaders are highly respected and honoured abroad, yet many Nigerians fail to value what they have because of hatred and the narratives planted in their minds by political paymasters, which have also hardened their hearts,” she wrote.
She further criticised what she described as a culture of public ridicule and online abuse directed at leaders, warning that such behaviour could undermine national unity and slow collective progress.
“They bully these leaders, speak ill of them, demean them, curse them, and even seize upon their mistakes to drag them across social media, ridiculing and mocking them publicly,” she added.
The First Lady stressed that Nigeria’s strength lies in unity, mutual respect and collective effort, urging citizens to support leaders and work together toward national development.
“Nigeria is built on love, unity, and collective effort toward shared success. Let us come together to support our respected leaders and work hand in hand with them to make our country great,” she said.
Her comments come amid renewed international attention on Nigeria’s security situation following remarks by Trump and some U.S. lawmakers concerning violence against Christians. In late 2025, the United States designated Nigeria a “country of particular concern” over alleged attacks on Christians, a move the Nigerian government rejected, insisting the country’s security challenges stem from terrorism and criminality affecting citizens across religious and ethnic lines.