A Journey of Faith and Resilience
In her 52-page memoir, The Journey of Grace: Giving Thanks in All Things, released to mark her 65th birthday, the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, reflects on her emotional journey as she stepped into the role of the First Lady of Africa’s most populous country. The book, obtained by Saturday PUNCH, provides an intimate look into her experiences following the 2023 general election.
The memoir is structured chronologically, with each chapter covering a year from 2021 to 2025. It includes a foreword by Dr. Folashade Olukoya of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries. In it, Mrs. Tinubu shares her feelings of fear, doubt, and isolation, questioning her readiness to serve as the First Lady of a nation with over 240 million people.
Facing Uncertainty
Mrs. Tinubu described feeling unprepared for the immense responsibility that came with her new role. She recalled days of self-doubt, wondering if she could effectively support her husband while maintaining her own identity. “I often isolated myself, pondering on my ability to play the supportive and complementary role without messing up,” she wrote.
In the days following the presidential election and before her husband’s inauguration on May 29, 2023, she experienced deep emotional turmoil. “I felt alone, weeping behind closed doors and wondering why I was betrayed by some of those I considered friends and spiritual family,” she recounted. Despite this, she found solace in her faith and the support of some trusted individuals.
Overcoming Challenges
The First Lady admitted to having moments of self-pity, questioning her strength and seeking guidance from a spiritual mentor. “Somewhere along the way, I forgot because the drowning voices of some naysayers clouded my reasoning for that moment. Until I was reminded of all God has spoken over my life, all over again,” she said.
Her reflections come at a time when Nigeria is still grappling with the aftermath of one of its most divisive elections in recent history. President Bola Tinubu, the flagbearer of the All Progressives Congress, won the February polls with 8.79 million votes, defeating Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party and Peter Obi of the Labour Party. The result was disputed by the opposition, but both the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal and the Supreme Court upheld Tinubu’s victory.
Focusing on Purpose
Despite the challenges, Mrs. Tinubu found strength in her faith and began planning for her responsibilities ahead of the inauguration. “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 said.
While her husband focused on forming his cabinet, she began preparing her own official programme. “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,” she revealed. The initiative focuses on five key areas—Agriculture, Economic Empowerment, Education, Health, and Social Investment.
Preparing for the Big Day
In the lead-up to the May 29, 2023, inauguration, Mrs. Tinubu turned her attention to personal details surrounding the event. Clothing for her husband was a top priority, as “it is his first big day before any other person.” She requested outfits for herself ahead of the ceremony, though many were unsatisfactory.
“I wanted a traditional fabric worn by royalty in earlier times, such as Alari or Etu,” she said. A good friend brought her a set just before the event, and her dressmaker quickly created the outfit she wore. For the remaining activities, old clothing from her closet came in handy.
Navigating Political Divisions
The First Lady also shared her emotional struggles related to her husband’s controversial Muslim-Muslim presidential bid. This decision sparked outrage among Christian groups and left her isolated in her local Church. “My local Assembly, Redeemed Christian Church of God, was split,” she said.
The Redeemed Christian Church of God is one of Nigeria’s largest Pentecostal denominations. Mrs. Tinubu noted that the division revealed the diversity of political leanings within the church. “I later realized that we are a church like other churches with members of all political parties in attendance,” she added.
She recalled a similar experience during her 2011 Senate campaign, when her posters were rebuffed at the church. “After that, I never tried again,” she said. However, her husband’s presidential bid presented a different challenge, one that proved difficult for many to accept.
