The First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has urged Nigerians to demonstrate greater respect and support for the nation’s leaders, warning against the spread of hate-filled narratives and sustained attacks on social media.
In a post shared on her Facebook page on Friday night, Mrs Tinubu expressed concern that many Nigerian leaders who are widely acknowledged and celebrated internationally often face hostility and intense criticism at home.
She attributed this trend largely to political propaganda and misinformation.
“Most of our leaders are highly respected and honored abroad, yet many Nigerians fail to value what they have because of hatred and the narratives planted in their minds by political paymasters, which have also hardened their hearts,” she wrote.
The First Lady condemned what she described as the increasing culture of bullying, public shaming and ridicule of national leaders, particularly across social media platforms.
“They bully these leaders, speak ill of them, demean them, curse them, and even seize upon their mistakes to drag them across social media, ridiculing and mocking them publicly,” Mrs Tinubu stated.
She stressed that Nigeria’s strength lies in unity, love and collective responsibility, calling on citizens to collaborate with their leaders in the pursuit of national development.
“Nigeria is built on love, unity, and collective effort toward shared success.
“Let us come together to support our respected leaders and work hand in hand with them to make our country great,” she added.
Mrs Tinubu’s remarks came a day after United States President Donald Trump described her as a “very respected woman” during the United States National Prayer Breakfast held in Washington, D.C.
At the event, she was recognised for her contributions to faith-based initiatives and the empowerment of women.