06/06/2026
The leader of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has issued a sharp critique of First Lady Oluremi Tinubu regarding her public response to the recent abduction of schoolchildren in Oyo State.
During a gathering with women on Friday, Primate Ayodele asserted that the First Lady’s current approach lacks the urgency expected of a "concerned mother." The cleric expressed profound disappointment that, despite the ongoing national crisis, the First Lady has not publicly championed the safe return of the captive students.
Highlighting the political implications of her silence, Ayodele warned that such perceived indifference could jeopardize President Bola Tinubu’s political future, specifically concerning the 2027 general election. He suggested that her current focus—which he contrasted against the advocacy style of former First Lady Patience Jonathan during crises in 2014—falls short of the expected standard for someone in her position.
"The First Lady should have taken a more active stance," Ayodele argued, contending that while students remain in captivity, the optics of the administration appear fixed on political mobilization rather than humanitarian advocacy.
The cleric's remarks follow the recent inauguration of the "Tinubu Torchbearers," a support group established at the State House in Abuja. During the event, the First Lady donated vehicles to All Progressives Congress (APC) women leaders from five opposition-controlled states. Critics, including Primate Ayodele, have pointed to these political activities as evidence of a misalignment in priorities during a period of national security distress.