LAGOS — The Spiritual Leader of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has launched a fierce critique against the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, accusing her of political insensitivity and a total lack of empathy regarding the recent abduction of school children in Oyo State.
In a searing public statement, the cleric contrasted the First Lady’s muted response to the regional security crisis with the actions of former First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan during the 2014 Chibok girls’ abduction. He chided Mrs. Tinubu for prioritizing political patronage over national empathy.
Accusations of Lack of Empathy Amid Insecurity
Primate Ayodele expressed deep disappointment in the First Lady’s approach, arguing that as the mother of the nation, her immediate priority should have been leading a national outcry and exerting pressure on the security apparatus to secure the safe return of the captive students.
“Remi Tinubu, you did not behave like a mother at all,” Ayodele declared. “You should have done what Jonathan’s wife did. You never protested and demanded that these Oyo school children be brought back.”
The cleric referenced Patience Jonathan’s highly publicized—and historically significant—emotional public interventions during the early days of the Boko Haram school abductions, noting that a similar level of visible, maternal desperation was expected from the current First Lady given the gravity of the Oyo State incident.
Campaign Vehicles vs. National Mourning
A major pillar of Ayodele’s criticism focused on the timing of the First Lady’s political engagements. He argued that while families in the Southwest were reeling from the trauma of the mass abduction, the office of the First Lady was focused on the distribution of vehicles for political campaigns.
“Instead, you were busy distributing cars for political campaigns,” the prophet stated sharply. “I will tell you the truth.”
The distribution of campaign assets during a period of high-profile insecurity has triggered widespread debate among political analysts and civil rights groups. Critics suggest that the display of political patronage amidst active hostage crises highlights an ongoing disconnect between the presidency and the grim realities faced by ordinary citizens.
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| CLERICAL CRITIQUE: PATIENCE JONATHAN VS. REMI TINUBU |
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| FIRST LADY ERA | CLERICAL ASSESSMENT |
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| Dame Patience Jonathan (2014) | Commended for active public protests|
| | and demanding accountability. |
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| Senator Oluremi Tinubu (2026) | Criticized for focusing on campaign |
| | logistics during an active crisis. |
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Growing Pressure on the First Family
Mass kidnappings, which were historically concentrated in the North-West and North-East regions, have increasingly breached the security perimeters of the South-West, with Oyo State recording severe border incursions by armed bandits targeting schools and commuters.
Ayodele’s open rebuke adds to the mounting pressure on the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. With religious leaders moving beyond spiritual admonitions to directly challenge the operational priorities of the First Family, political observers note that the presidency faces a widening deficit of public trust regarding its handling of the nation’s internal security.
As of the time of publication, the office of the First Lady has not issued an official response to Primate Ayodele’s statements.
