First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu has denied reports that she would lead a national prayer for economic recovery, following public criticism labeling her as misleading amidst rising economic pressures.
The clarification came as Nigerians voiced frustration over economic challenges, including escalating living costs and worsening hunger, amid recent government spending decisions that have further fueled discontent.
Nigerians have pointed to recent actions by President Bola Tinubu’s administration, such as the acquisition of a new presidential jet and a Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) approval, led by Minister Nyesom Wike, to allocate N9.8 billion for renovating the Presidential Wing. These decisions have intensified scrutiny as the country grapples with widespread financial hardships.
On Saturday, Tinubu, through her media aide Busola Kukoyi, dismissed the reports of her involvement in a national prayer initiative as “unfounded and misleading,” urging the public to disregard them.
“The news making rounds on certain media platforms is unfounded and misleading. Anyone who may have encountered the alleged news of a joint National Prayer for Nigeria should consider it false,” Kukoyi stated.
Kukoyi clarified that while Tinubu, a devout Christian, strongly supports prayer for Nigeria, she believes it is a responsibility that all Nigerians should willingly embrace, transcending religious, political, and ethnic boundaries.
The statement follows claims by the National Prayer Forum (NPF) that both the First Lady and National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu would lead an interfaith prayer gathering. According to Chief Segun Balogun Afolorunikan, NPF Director-General, the week-long event was intended to feature interfaith prayers at the National Mosque and National Ecumenical Centre in Abuja.
The program, themed “Seeking the Intervention of God in Nigeria’s Affairs,” aimed to uplift national morale and provide spiritual support to Nigeria’s leadership during the ongoing economic crisis. Planned activities included 313 Muslim participants completing over 2,000 Qur’an recitations, along with Christian prayers at the Ecumenical Centre.
Responding to criticism of the event, Afolorunikan emphasized that the initiative was neither governmental nor partisan, and that the invitations extended to the First Lady and NSA were solely based on respect for their roles.
“It’s disheartening that some have chosen to politicize this prayer effort rather than support it,” Afolorunikan remarked. Citing passages from both the Bible and Quran, he underscored the significance of prayer in times of hardship, adding that prayer provides a divine source of strength that complements the nation’s efforts.
To those questioning the relevance of prayer amid an economic crisis, he stated, “This is not a substitute for diligent efforts or economic reforms, but rather a humble acknowledgment of the need for divine guidance alongside our actions.”
He concluded by stressing the role of citizens in contributing their talents and resources, including spiritual practices, toward national challenges, noting that unity and prayer are essential pillars of resilience in difficult times.
