By Adesina Soyooye
In a moment that must have surprised not a few Nigerians, President Donald Trump of the United States of America has publicly recognised Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, as a woman of significant influence and faith. He, also, acknowledged her spiritual role in Nigeria.
Considering how much in contempt Trump holds Nigeria, calling it a ‘disgraced country’, and taking very negative actions against its citizens, including Visa restrictions, it came as a huge surprise that Trump paid attention to the presence of the First Lady.
The recognition took place on Thursday during the tradition annual National Prayer Breakfast. It is
a long-standing tradition in the U.S. capital, Washington and brings together political and religious leaders.
As the event progressed, and it was the turn of Trump to talk, the President paused in the middle of his address, and took a special note of Nigeria’s First Lady.
He said: “We’re honored to be joined today by the First Lady of Nigeria, who also happens to serve as a Christian Pastor at the largest church in Nigeria. A very respected woman. First Lady, please, where are you? Thank you very much. It’s a great honor. Thank you very much. Very respected person, too.”
Trump then searched the crowd and acknowledged her presence.
This heart-warming recognition, thanks to the First Lady’s soft diplomacy, comes at a time Nigeria has been classified by the US as a Country of special interest where, the Country insists, Christian genocide is going on.
Instructively, Tinubu, a Muslim, is married to Oluremi, a Christian and a Pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God. The President has always said that with a Christian Pastor-wife and children who are mostly Christians, he couldn’t quite preside over a country where Christians are being deliberately persecuted. The killings in Nigeria, which are carried out by bandits and terrorists, the President has argued, cuts across religions – Islam, Christianity and even those who do not believe in any of the two main religions.
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