Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has revealed that she was overwhelmed with fear, doubt and isolation shortly after the 2023 general election, questioning her readiness to serve as the First Lady of Africa’s most populous country.
In her 52-page memoir, The Journey of Grace: Giving Thanks in All Things, released to mark her 65th birthday, Mrs Tinubu said the burden of expectation weighed heavily on her.
She wrote, “As for me, I had a lot of mixed feelings, questioning my readiness and capability to function effectively and optimally as the First Lady of so great a nation as ours.”
The First Lady admitted that in the days leading to her husband’s inauguration on May 29, 2023, she was often left in tears, struggling with loneliness and betrayal by trusted allies.
She stated, “Despite the victory, I felt alone, weeping behind closed doors and wondering why I was betrayed by some of those I considered friends and spiritual family, many of whom I had opened up my home and my family to.”
According to her, while some allies abandoned them, others provided comfort and reassurance of God’s purpose.
Mrs Tinubu also acknowledged moments of despair, saying she occasionally hosted what she called “pity parties.”
“If you say, occasionally, I had a pity party, you are right, I really did. I thought about who to reach out to for support and counselling,” she admitted.
She noted that her mentor constantly reminded her of God’s promises, helping her overcome the drowning voices of critics.
The First Lady said faith eventually restored her confidence and shifted her focus toward service.
“It was now time to move on and start planning what to do that would benefit our people; also, to prepare for the inauguration and mend body, soul and spirit,” she wrote.
While President Bola Tinubu worked on assembling his cabinet, Mrs Tinubu began structuring her own programme.
She disclosed that her pet project, Renewed Hope Initiative, was conceived to align with the President’s agenda.
“My first line of thought was that my programme has to be in sync with the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda, and I aptly settled for Renewed Hope Initiative. The scope and focus were in five key areas, Agriculture, Economic Empowerment, Education, Health and Social Investment,” she revealed.
Mrs Tinubu also offered personal details about preparations for the May 29 inauguration, noting that finding the right outfit proved unexpectedly challenging.
“Most of the ones made were not what I wanted; I wanted a traditional fabric worn by royalty in the day (Alari or Etu). A good friend of ours brought me a set just barely a week before the Big Day… In a few days, I had the outfit I wore. For the remaining activities, old clothing from my closet came in handy,” she wrote.
She explained that her husband’s attire was given priority because “it is his first big day before any other person.”
The First Lady also admitted that her husband’s controversial Muslim-Muslim ticket took an emotional toll on her, straining ties with church groups.
She said the backlash from the Christian Association of Nigeria and the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria left her feeling isolated within her own local church.
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