Remi: Tinubu’s Muslim-Muslim ticket split my church | Some allies betrayed my husband in 2023

Remi Tinubu, the first lady, has written about the challenges she faced within her local church following her husband’s decision to run on a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket in the 2023 election.

Remi was ordained pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), one of Nigeria’s largest pentecostal denominations, in 2018.

Punch newspaper reports that in her new memoir, ‘The Journey of Grace: Giving Thanks in All Things’, the first lady described the episode as a “bitter pill” that caused division in her parish and tested her faith.

The 52-page book, released to mark her 65th birthday, chronicled events from 2021 to 2025, and included a foreword by Folashade Olukoya, wife of the general overseer of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries.

Oluremi recalled how the decision to field a Muslim-Muslim ticket by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) reignited sensitive religious debates in Nigeria.

She said despite being a Christian, her faith did not deter her husband’s choice, but it did split her church.

“We kept moving forward with hope in God, and each campaign was interesting despite the fact that all the odds were stacked against him,” she recounted.

“One of such decisions was the unpopular ‘Muslim/Muslim ticket’. My being a Christian did not matter. My local assembly, Redeemed Christian Church of God, was split.”

The former senator also recounted her 2011 senatorial campaign, saying her political posters were rejected by the church.

“I later realised that we are a church like other churches with members of all political parties in attendance,” she wrote.

“I experienced this during my campaign in 2011 for the senate, when I took my campaign posters to the church, and it was rebuffed. After that, I never tried again.”

Remi said while some parishioners showed hostility, many elders and members offered prayers and support, helping her to remain steadfast in her faith.

She said despite the animosity, she never changed her place of worship and credited her spiritual growth to the experience.

“But I kept attending church, and I thank God I have grown from being a baby to a mature Christian,” she added.

“So the little resentment I witnessed from a few was met with the peace of God. All the same, despite a few who showed hostility, many were encouraging, especially our elders, who would encourage me from time to time with prayers.

“To this end, I am grateful to God and everyone of them, especially those of them who lived to watch the presidential inauguration when the time came. I thank the pastorate also for making arrangements for them.

“I thank my local assembly because most of them made me feel welcome and comfortable enough to come to church whenever I was home from Abuja, where I was still serving as a senator representing Lagos central senatorial district.”

In 2022, Tinubu, a Muslim from Nigeria’s south-west, had handpicked Kashim Shettima, a Muslim from Borno state, as his running mate ahead of the 2023 vote.

‘ONLY GOD REWARDS, NOT MAN’

Remi also claimed that some of her husband’s allies deserted him when he decided to vie for the presidency after more than 14 years of contemplation.

She said she has forgiven those who betrayed her husband during the electioneering campaign, adding that she has chosen peace over bitterness.

“He had mused on the idea for over 14 years, and this was where we arrived at a crossroads. Most people I thought would support the idea because of past relationships were not forthcoming,” she wrote.

“After consulting with some of his political allies, he was set to give it a shot. The decision now rested on him to go on or not to. A lot of consultations began.

“Some were favourable, while others were neither here nor there. Some said no indirectly, while others would rather want to see the outcome before taking a position.

“I realised that whatever good you do in life, it is only God who rewards you and not man. I do not have anything against anyone… the question is how did I not feel the betrayal anymore? I knew the grace factor was evident, and the Holy Spirit continually comforted me.”