First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, middle, hosts Interfaith breaking of fast for women
God is speaking to us on unity with Lent and Ramadan, says First Lady Oluremi Tinubu
. Hosts Interfaith breaking of fast for women
Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, says the fasting period of both Christians and Muslims falling at the same period is a direct message from God to Nigerians.
She stated this at the interfaith Breaking of Fast (Iftar/Lent) she held for women from across all sectors in the country.
The First Lady explained that the message is a strong one about harmonious living and unity.
“Jesus said in the Bible that He did not come to abolish the law. He summarized the laws Moses brought down from the mountain into two: love God and love one another,” she said.
Senator Oluremi Tinubu drew from her nearly four-decade interfaith marriage to President Bola Tinubu to preach on religious harmony.
She highlighted personal peaceful coexistence as against insecurity and division, urging Nigerians to embrace service with “excellence, compassion, and integrity.”
According to her, “Today, like I said, is indeed a great day. It is a day that God only made for us to gather together, and for women, first, from different backgrounds. Since the Ramadan fast was announced, and the Lenten season began together, it was like God was speaking to us as a nation.
“Recently, we know a lot of things have been going on and people are trying target us through our religious beliefs… And we, Nigerians, we know that most of the time that is not the case. Some of us are married to men of different faith, and we live together for many years. Me, almost 40 years.
“And I can tell you, I cannot remember when both of us raised our voices at each other. Maybe not more than twice in the 40 years, I can tell you that. So, we’ve been quite mature and respectful about that. And I believe that’s the best way to live together”.
Speaking on the theme of the lecture of the Interfaith, Breaking of Fast, the First Lady challenged women on their public roles.
“Most women in this room, either you have your own office, or your husband is in the public office… you as the wife, has a role to play,” she said.
She urged Nigerians to drop “entitlement”mentality, and stressed on the need to mentor youths.
“We all have a lot of work to do, especially for the young people. You have to mentor them… The old school is still modern… So, we have the real intelligence to pass on to the next generation,” she explained.
A Director at National Open University of Nigeria, Prof. Ganiyat Adejoke Adesina-Uthman, also spoke on the topic: “Serving with Excellence, Compassion and Integrity in Public Life On excellence”, stressing that integrity is non-negotiable.
“If you are lacking in integrity, then you are clearly fraud… Your name and your character must be the same… Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone,” she said.
Bishop Sally William Chinebu of Dominion Church International explained the theme biblically, saying: “If we look at the life of our ultimate example, Jesus Christ… Think of these three factors, excellence, compassion and entireness… When women get up… they create unprecedented force.
“Excellence is not decided as a profession… With the excellence of Christ. Excellence without compassion is cold… He (Jesus) saw them, He felt for them… Compassion is not just a feeling.
“We are serving the Lord… May we all, by grace of God, be willing to serve our generation.”
The event was attended by former First Lady of Nigeria, Dame Patience Jonathan, wife of the Vice President Hajia Nana Shettima, wife of former Vice President, Hajia Namadi Sambo, wife of Senate President, Mrs Ekaette Akpabio, Mrs Fatima Tajudeen Abass, female National Assembly members, female judges, female ministers, among very many others.
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