Senator Oluremi Tinubu, the wife of President Bola Tinubu, has come out strong in defense of her husband, stating that he is not the cause of Nigeria’s current economic hardship.
Speaking at the Palace of Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, on Thursday, she emphasized that the Tinubu administration is still in its early stages, having been in office for just 18 months.
“We are not the cause of the current situation; we are trying to fix it and secure the future,” she said, acknowledging the challenges faced by Nigerians since the removal of fuel subsidy, which led to a significant increase in petrol prices from N198 to N1,030.
Her husband, President Tinubu, had announced the end of subsidy during his inaugural address on May 29, 2023, citing it as a hindrance to Nigeria’s progress.
Despite the difficulties, Oluremi Tinubu expressed optimism that Nigeria will overcome its current economic troubles.
“We know that subsidy has been removed, but with God on our side, in the next two years, Nigeria will be greater than this,” she said, citing her husband’s commitment to building a better future for the nation.
The First Lady also took the opportunity to dispel notions that her husband is greedy, thanking God for his emergence as Nigeria’s leader.
“We give glory to God for our status… Myself and my husband, we are not greedy but we thank God for what God has done for us,” she said.
During her visit, Oluremi Tinubu inaugurated a hostel and a 2.7-kilometer road donated to Ọbafẹmi Awolọwọ University (OAU) by the Ooni of Ife and named after her. She also donated N1 billion to the university for its development and advancement, 41 years after graduating from the institution.
The Ooni of Ife praised Oluremi Tinubu for being a role model to young Nigerians, particularly through her New Era Initiative, which provided opportunities for young students to serve as One Day Governors in Lagos.
