Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, the ambassador-designate and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Inter-Parliamentary Affairs, has publicly lauded First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu for what he termed a pivotal role in positively reframing Nigeria’s international reputation.
In a statement, the Ondo South senator highlighted the First Lady’s strategic engagements on global platforms as a key diplomatic intervention, particularly in shifting perceptions within the United States.
Ibrahim specifically pointed to her participation in high-profile international religious events, including a prayer breakfast attended by former U.S. President Donald Trump. He argued that such presence has been instrumental in countering narratives that falsely portray Nigeria’s internal security challenges as a form of religious genocide.
“The fact that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is married to a pastor clearly dispels allegations of religious bias or state-sponsored persecution,” Senator Ibrahim stated. “If the President can have a pastor as his wife, then it is evident that he has no hand in religious genocide, which Nigeria is not known for.”
According to the senator, these efforts have successfully redirected international opinion to view Nigeria’s security situation as a national issue rather than one driven by religious agenda. This recalibration, he noted, is crucial for fostering fair and merit-based international support for the current administration.
Ibrahim concluded by emphasising the subtle power of such diplomacy, describing the First Lady’s work as “an action driven by influence rather than rhetoric,” underscoring that effective statecraft extends beyond formal governmental meetings.
