Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has revealed that she once faced persecution and religious bias for being married to a Muslim, while dismissing claims that Nigeria is witnessing a Christian genocide.
Speaking during an interview with the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) in Washington, the First Lady addressed concerns about alleged religious killings in Nigeria and the country’s broader security situation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Responding to claims of systemic targeting of Christians, Tinubu said she does not believe the violence in Nigeria fits the description of a genocide.
“I don’t think so,” she said, explaining that insecurity in the country is driven largely by terrorism, criminality, and longstanding instability rather than a coordinated religious agenda.
“When you have terrorists and people kidnapping for money, and when the world is throwing in a narrative that is Christian genocide, terrorists will latch onto that and begin to attack churches,” she stated.
An ordained Pentecostal pastor, Tinubu disclosed that she personally experienced hostility because of her Christian faith and her marriage to President Bola Tinubu, a Muslim.
“There was a Muslim cleric that said I’m a heathen,” she revealed, noting that many of those who defended her at the time were Muslims from Northern Nigeria.
The First Lady said her nearly four-decade interfaith marriage reflects the complex and often misunderstood nature of religious relations in Nigeria.
“If I’m going to enjoy my marriage, Jesus has to come in and give me that peace. My husband is a good man,” she stated.
While rejecting the genocide narrative, Tinubu acknowledged the gravity of insecurity in Nigeria and welcomed international cooperation in combating terrorism.
She also expressed appreciation to US President Donald Trump for American military support against terrorist groups, noting that improved security had helped prevent attacks during the last Christmas celebration.
Nigeria continues to grapple with insurgency, banditry, and communal violence, with thousands killed and millions displaced over the years — a crisis that has fueled ongoing global debate about the drivers and dimensions of insecurity in the country.