Elijah Ayodele, founder and spiritual leader of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, has criticised Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, over her response to the abduction of schoolchildren in Oyo state, saying she failed to show the compassion expected of a mother.
Speaking during a church programme, the cleric compared Remi Tinubu’s reaction to that of former First Lady Patience Jonathan during the 2014 abduction of schoolgirls in Chibok by Boko Haram insurgents.
Ayodele recalled how Patience Jonathan publicly sympathised with the families of the kidnapped girls and became known for her emotional appeals during the crisis.
Addressing the current First Lady, the cleric said she should have spoken out more forcefully on behalf of the abducted pupils and teachers.
“Remi Tinubu, you did not behave like a mother at all,” he said.
“You should have done what Jonathan’s wife did in 2014, even if it meant to pretend.”
Ayodele accused the First Lady of failing to publicly demand the safe return of the abducted victims.
“You never protested to demand the safe return of kidnapped Oyo schoolchildren,” he said.
“Instead, you were busy distributing cars to APC women leaders.”
The cleric further claimed that the First Lady’s actions could have political consequences for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 elections.
“You will make Tinubu lose the 2027 elections,” he said.
“I’ll tell you the truth.”
His comments come amid growing public concern over the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo state, which has sparked protests by teachers, labour groups and civil society organisations demanding their immediate rescue.
