First Lady, Remi Tinubu, Reveals ‘Bitter Pill’ of Muslim-Muslim Ticket in Memoir

In a new memoir, Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has opened up about the profound personal and religious strain she experienced due to her husband’s decision to run on a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket in the 2023 election.

Marking her 65th birthday with the 52-page book, The Journey of Grace: Giving Thanks in All Things, Mrs. Tinubu described the choice as a “bitter pill” that caused division within her local parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) and tested her faith.

She recounted feeling isolated as her local church split over the controversial ticket, a move that revived one of Nigeria’s most sensitive political debates.

This experience, however, led her to realize that the church, like others, is composed of members with diverse political leanings.

“This was a bitter pill for them to chew,” she wrote, reflecting on the resentment she faced from some congregants.

Despite the hostility, Mrs. Tinubu emphasized that she did not leave her church, where she has been a dedicated member since 2007, rising from a worker to an Assistant Pastor.

She credited her maturity as a Christian and the peace of God for helping her endure the situation, adding that many church elders and members offered encouragement and prayers.

The First Lady also addressed the betrayal she felt from some of her husband’s closest allies who withdrew their support when he decided to run for president.

She stated that she has chosen to forgive all who betrayed them, drawing on scripture to explain that she holds no grudges.

“I realised that whatever good you do in life, it is only God who rewards you and not man,” she wrote, adding that her focus is now on “doing good” and working to make Nigeria better, without expecting anything from man, but God.

President Bola Tinubu, with Kashim Shettima as his running mate, went on to win the February 2023 election.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled:  Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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