WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a stinging public rejection, prominent American broadcast journalist and President of the Family Research Council, Tony Perkins, has revealed he refused an interview request from Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, during her recent high-profile visit to the United States.
Speaking on his program, Washington Watch, Perkins disclosed that the First Lady’s team sought a platform to discuss religious freedom in Nigeria. However, the broadcaster summarily rejected the approach, citing concerns that the administration was attempting to “cover up” ongoing persecution.
‘No Platform for Cover-Ups’
“The First Lady of Nigeria was here this week, and in fact, they wanted to come on the programme to talk about religious freedom, and I said, ‘I’m not gonna meet with them or have a meeting with anybody,’” Perkins stated during his broadcast. He added pointedly, “I’m not gonna give them a platform to cover up what they’re doing in Nigeria”.
The snub highlights deepening international skepticism despite the First Lady’s high-profile attendance at the 74th Annual National Prayer Breakfast on February 5, 2026, where she was publicly acknowledged by U.S. President Donald Trump. While pro-government supporters celebrated the recognition as a “diplomatic win,” critics argue it has failed to soften the U.S. government’s stance on religious violence.
The $9 Million Lobbying Cloud
The rejection coincides with a intensifying controversy over Nigeria’s reported $9 million lobbying spend in Washington.
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- The Contract: U.S. lawmakers recently condemned the Nigerian government for hiring a DCI lobbying firm for $750,000 per month (totalling $9 million) to “burnish its reputation”.
- Misplaced Priorities: Opposition parties, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC), have slammed the expenditure as “moral blindness,” arguing that the funds should have been used to address deepening security and economic crises at home rather than “propaganda” abroad.
Religious Freedom Under Fire
The tension follows President Trump’s late-2025 re-designation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) over alleged state apathy toward the killing of Christians. Tony Perkins has been a vocal critic of the Nigerian government’s record, having previously testified before the U.S. House of Representatives that the situation warrants measures such as tariffs to get the government’s attention.
As of February 8, 2026, the Office of the First Lady has not officially responded to Perkins’ comments. However, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the limitations of expensive image-laundering efforts when faced with persistent reports of unsolved massacres in states like Kwara, Benue, and Katsina.
