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Muslims are more than Christians in Nigeria, Remi Tinubu justifies husband’s Muslim-Muslim ticket

First Lady Remi Tinubu, during her trip to the U.S., said Muslims outnumber Christians in Nigeria as she explained and justified her husband, President Bola Tinubu’s same-faith ticket.

Mrs Tinubu, a pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God, told The Free Press that her husband’s Muslim-Muslim ticket was a political decision.

Explaining her husband’s decision to contest on a Muslim-Muslim ticket in the 2023 election, which attracted much opposition from Christians in Nigeria, Mrs Tinubu said someone from the southern part of the country cannot pick a Christian running mate but a Muslim.

“Let’s face it, the Muslims are more than us,” Mrs Tinubu said. “If a southerner wants to run for president, politics is a game of numbers. You have to pick another Muslim. You can’t pick a Christian.”

The first lady further said that in the Presidential Villa, she takes care of both the interests of Christians and Muslims.

“I’m a Christian in the presidential villa. I take care of the interests of Christians, and I also take care of Muslims. That is what life should be. We have to respect everybody, irrespective of religion,” Mrs Tinubu said.

Mrs Tinubu, who attended the National Prayer Breakfast in the U.S. last week, said her mission to America was to “make some clarifications about recent hype on social media that there is Christian genocide.”

The first lady said the Christian genocide campaign erupted just after her husband’s government navigated the country out of economic turbulence characterised by soaring food prices and a declining naira.

In another interview with The Hill during her visit to the United States, Mrs Tinubu said “global concern about persecution of Christians in the country is based on ‘propaganda.’”

However, she called for more U.S. military strikes targeting terrorists and bandits in the northern region of the country, describing the Christmas Day military strikes ordered by President Donald Trump as a “blessing” to the West African nation.

Burob:
Why the smiling emojis, what is so funny about the state that u are from?

Burob:
Why the smiling emojis, what is funny about what u said?

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has raised doubts about the capability of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct proper elections, saying, “something as basic as choosing a broadly acceptable date should not be mishandled”.

He asked INEC to reconsider the February 20, 2027, and March 6, 2027 election dates because they fall within Ramadan, a sacred season of fasting, reflection, and spiritual devotion for millions of Nigerian Muslims.

In a post on his Facebook page, the Presidential hopeful and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, said if the issue of timing is not well handled by INEC, “what assurance do we have that it will competently deliver free, fair, and credible elections in 2027”.

Atiku said, “The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) must urgently reconsider the February 20, 2027 date it has announced for the general elections. That date falls squarely within the Ramadan period (February 7 – March 8, 2027), a sacred season of fasting, reflection, and spiritual devotion for millions of Nigerian Muslims.

“Elections are not mere administrative rituals; they are national exercises that demand maximum participation, physical endurance, and collective focus.

“Fixing such a critical civic exercise in the middle of a major religious observance reflects poor judgment and a troubling lack of sensitivity to the nation’s socio-religious realities.

“In a diverse country like Nigeria, inclusive planning is not optional, it is fundamental. Something as basic as choosing a broadly acceptable date should not be mishandled. It speaks to competence, foresight, and respect for citizens.

“If INEC struggles with getting a simple matter of timing right, Nigerians are justified in asking: what assurance do we have that it will competently deliver free, fair, and credible elections in 2027?”