Former Edo State Governor and Senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, has described United States President Donald Trump’s public praise of Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, as a proud moment that deserves celebration across the country.
Oshiomhole made the remark on Friday after a visit to the Presidential Villa, explaining that his meeting with President Bola Tinubu was largely to congratulate him over the international recognition accorded his wife.
The lawmaker was reacting to Trump’s comments at the 74th Annual National Prayer Breakfast on Capitol Hill, where the US President openly acknowledged and praised the Nigerian First Lady before a global audience.
While addressing participants at the event, Trump drew attention to Remi Tinubu’s presence, commending her standing and her role as a Christian pastor in one of Nigeria’s largest churches.
“We are honoured to be joined today by the First Lady of Nigeria, who also happens to serve as a Christian pastor at one of the largest churches. A very respected woman.
“First Lady, where are you? Thank you very much. It is a great honour to have you with us.”
Reacting, Oshiomhole said the recognition was significant and should be seen as a boost to Nigeria’s image abroad.
“I came to see Mr. President, I haven’t seen him this year. Also very importantly, you saw the way and manner President Donald Trump acknowledged not just the President of Nigeria but our First Lady, describing her as a very respectable woman and responsible woman and a pastor of the largest church in Nigeria and he invited her to stand up for recognition.
“You know that President Trump is very blunt. So when she used those words to describe our First Lady as a Nigerian you feel proud. And I think it is important for us to say, Mr. President, congratulations because if it is the other way round, imagine what the opposition would have been saying now. You all saw the applause. For me as a Nigerian, that’s what celebrating.”
The former labour leader added that Trump’s remarks reflect positively on President Tinubu and Nigeria as a nation.
“It just means that to the credit of Mr. President, Trump understands that the Nigerian president is a Muslim, but he now celebrates the fact that he has a Christian as his wife, who is also a pastor of the largest church in Nigeria.
“So, there can be no tension between the Quran and the Bible and that for me is a message to all Nigerians. That we should just work together as a people for the common goal.
“If there are challenges, we face them collectively as a people. If there are benefits, we share freely to our people . That’s the central message.
“We must not run down our country. If we have issues, together we will fix them and they are being fixed,” he added.
