Nigerian leaders respected abroad, bullied at home — Remi Tinubu

The First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has said many Nigerian leaders enjoy deep respect and honour internationally but are often criticised, abused and undervalued by citizens at home, blaming the trend on hate-driven narratives and political manipulation.

Mrs Tinubu made the remarks in a post on her Facebook page on Friday, days after United States President Donald Trump publicly described her as a “very respected woman” during the National Prayer Breakfast held in Washington, DC.

The annual event, which was attended by members of the US Congress, religious leaders and international guests, saw Trump single out the Nigerian First Lady while addressing participants on faith, leadership and global religious freedom.

During his speech, Trump acknowledged Remi Tinubu’s presence and praised her role as both 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. First Lady, please, where are you? Thank you very much. It’s a great honour. Very respected person, too,” Trump said.

Reacting to the recognition, the First Lady lamented what she described as a growing disconnect between international respect for Nigerian leaders and the treatment they receive from their own people.

According to her, many Nigerians have been influenced by persistent negative narratives promoted by political interests, leading to hostility and intolerance towards leaders, even when such leaders are acknowledged abroad for their contributions and standing

In her post, she said, “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 further criticised what she described as a culture of public ridicule and online abuse directed at Nigerian leaders, warning that such attitudes undermine national unity and 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.

Mrs Tinubu stressed that Nigeria’s strength lies in unity, mutual respect and collective effort, urging citizens to support their leaders rather than tear them down.

“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 focus on Nigeria’s security situation, following claims by Trump and some US lawmakers that Christians in Nigeria face widespread violence.

In late 2025, the United States designated Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” over alleged attacks on Christians, a move that drew strong criticism from the Nigerian government.

The Federal Government rejected the designation, describing it as inaccurate and harmful to national cohesion, and maintained that Nigeria’s security challenges are driven by terrorism and criminality affecting citizens across religious and ethnic lines.

Culled from punch