Tinubu: I Inherited Islam From My Parents, My Wife Is A Pastor — Yet We Live Without Conflict
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said that despite belonging to different faiths, religion has never been a source of conflict in his marriage. The president made this known on Saturday in Jos, Plateau State, while addressing church leaders from across Northern Nigeria during a courtesy visit to the headquarters of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN).
Tinubu, who was in Plateau to attend the funeral prayers of Nana Lydia Yilwatda Goshwe, mother of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Professor Abdullahi Nentawe Yilwatda Goshwe, said he remains deeply rooted in Islam but has never forced his beliefs on others — including his wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who is a Christian pastor.
“Hate is not an option for us,” President Tinubu told the congregation. “I inherited Islam from my parents and I haven’t changed, but my wife is a pastor. She prays for me every day, and there has never been any conflict between us. I have never tried to convince her to convert to Islam.”
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The president’s statement, captured in a video shared online, sparked wide conversation across social media platforms. Many Nigerians commended his remarks as an example of religious tolerance — a core value long associated with the Yoruba people. Others, however, accused him of subtly turning the solemn event into a platform for political messaging.
A social media user wrote: “That’s not just about Tinubu, it’s about Yoruba people. We generally don’t fight for gods; we let God fight for us. Religion shouldn’t be a do-or-die affair.” Another commenter added, “Tinubu may be controversial, but this statement reflects truth and maturity. Interfaith marriages should be built on respect and understanding.”
Not all reactions were supportive. Some critics argued that the president’s comments were an attempt to distract the public from the country’s economic and security challenges. “Who cares about your wife being a pastor?” one respondent wrote. “Over 5,000 Nigerians are displaced by insecurity — that’s what should concern you.”
Tinubu’s remarks come at a time when Nigeria continues to grapple with ethnic and religious divisions. His administration has often been accused of deepening polarization through its political decisions, particularly the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket of 2023. However, Tinubu has consistently emphasized unity, insisting that Nigerians must not allow religion to become a weapon of division.
During the Jos event, he called for renewed love and cooperation among citizens, saying: “We are all God’s children. We may worship differently, but our prayers go to the same Creator. Let us live as one family.”
Observers note that Tinubu’s interfaith marriage — between a Muslim man and a Christian woman — has long been cited as an example of coexistence and tolerance within Nigeria’s complex religious landscape.