“I am a Muslim but my wife is a pastor, yet no conflict” — Tinubu says as he calls for unity
President Bola Tinubu has urged Nigerians to live in peace and unity despite religious differences, stressing that faith should be a force for togetherness, not division.
Speaking on Saturday in Jos, Plateau State, during the funeral service of Lydia Yilwatda, mother of All Progressives Congress (APC) national chairman Nentawe Yilwatda, Tinubu said that God’s will is supreme and that all people, regardless of faith, serve the same Almighty.
“Nobody determines what God has ordained. God’s ordained action and his prophecies are what matter,” the president said.
Tinubu shared a personal reflection on interfaith harmony within his home, noting that although he is a Muslim, his wife, Oluremi Tinubu, is a Christian pastor, yet their differing beliefs have never caused conflict.
“I inherited Islam from my family. I didn’t change. But my wife is a pastor. She prays for me. No conflict. And I never did, at any single time, try to convince her or convert her,” he said.
The president added that his marriage exemplifies the unity Nigeria can achieve when citizens focus on shared values and mutual respect.
“I believe in the freedom of religion. We are praying to the same God. We are answerable to the same Almighty God. We will answer to Him. Our deeds, our character, and our love for our fellow beings are what truly matter — not the method or faith of our being,” Tinubu said.
Tinubu also paid tribute to the late Lydia Yilwatda, describing her as a woman of faith, service, and dedication, while praying for her peaceful repose.
