By Eberechi Obinagwam
First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has a history of exchanging verbal punches with anyone, irrespective of class.
A Pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Oluremi Tinubu does not play finesse when offended or feels offended.
Remi vs Dino
In 2016 during a heated debate in the Senate, her colleague, Senator Dino Melaye, got a bit of her dose.
Dino Melaye, then an All Progressives Congress (APC) Senator representing Kogi West had proposed heavy sanctions against fellow senators who connived with the Executive branch of the government to criminalise the then Senate President Bukola Saraki and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, on a case of forgery of Senate Rules.
The duo emerged as both Senate President and Deputy Senate President against the wishes of the Executive, hence, the plot to oust them.
Melaye had said during a sitting of the Senators: “You should go and tell those who sent you that nobody, I said nobody, no matter who he is, can ever control this Senate.”
Oluremi Tinubu then gave Melaye a dress down.
She said: “I’m just wondering why whenever Senator Dino speaks in this chamber, he is always threatening people and behaving childishly and at times like a thug.”
Melaye jumped in rage after being called a thug and child. It took the intervention of other senators to pacify him.
Remi vs Igbos in Lagos
In 2019, Oluremi Tinubu took on the Igbos in Lagos, saying they were ungrateful after being “accommodated” in the state.
She said: “We will entreat all the deities of Lagos to chase Igbo people out. Igbo who didn’t marry Yoruba, we will inherit them. Given how much we love Igbo, you now want to spoil everything.”
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She added: “You are not the only tribe in this place, Hausa are here, we accommodate them, Calabar are here, we accommodate them. But Igbos are proving difficult. We will inherit you. Despite the love, we have for you… others are here and we accommodated them.”
Remi Tinubu vs Smart Adeyemi
In April 2021, Senator Oluremi Tinubu called her colleague and fellow party man, Smart Adeyemi, a wolf in sheep’s clothing because he compared the level of insecurity in the country under the Muhammadu Buhari presidency to what was obtained during the civil war.
Adeyemi, who shed tears while contributing to a motion on the insecurity situation on the floor of the Senate, said the country was facing the worst instability since the civil war. “This is the worst instability we are facing. In fact, this is worse than the civil war,” he said.
Oluremi Tinubu interjected during the emotive contribution of Adeyemi by asking: “Are you in PDP? Are you a wolf in sheep’s clothing?”
Remi vs A woman at an event
In May 2021, Oluremi Tinubu called a woman ‘thug’ for protesting discrimination at an event in Lagos.
The event was the southwest zonal public hearing of the constitution review.
The event was held at Marriott Hotel in Lagos where residents queued to be allowed entry into the hall.
After the arrival of the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the front door was shut against those in the queue.
The ushers then informed those in the queue that registration had closed for the day. The development did not sit well with those who were unable to register, and they refused to leave the queue.
It was at this moment that some lawmakers from Oyo state passed the queue and were about to be ushered in, leading to the commotion at the front entrance.
As the shouts continued near the front door, with those in the queue insisting that they had been unfairly treated, the Oyo lawmakers were about to be hurriedly ushered through the backdoor, but the people followed them, preventing them from being allowed into the hall.
After some consultation with the personnel at the door, Oluremi Tinubu showed up at the backdoor to allow the lawmakers in.
As she was about to do this, a woman, who complained about being denied entry, decried the partial treatment and voiced out her frustration.
Seeing this, Senator Oluremi Tinubu beckoned on the woman and called her a “thug” for speaking too loud.
The comment infuriated those in the queue, who insisted that such a derogatory word shouldn’t have come from the senator.
Oluremi Tinubu was then asked by those in the queue to apologise but she refused, saying: “I will not apologise for what I said. I saw it and I said it.”
Who is Oluremi Tinubu
Oluremi Tinubu was born on September 21, 1960, to a Yoruba father from Ogun State and Itsekiri mother from Delta State. She is the youngest of 12 children.
Her Education
Tinubu started her educational career at Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School Ijebu-Ode where she obtained her West African Senior Secondary School Certificate Exam (WASSCE) in 1979, and PGD from The Redeemed Christian Bible College in 2010.
Tinubu received a B.S. in Education from the University of Ife, and a National Certificate of Education in Botany and Zoology from the Adeyemi College of Education.
Political Career
She became the first lady of Lagos State when her husband, Bola Tinubu, was elected as governor.
She was elected Senator in 2011 and became the longest-serving member of the upper legislative chamber to represent Lagos.
Personal life
She has three children with Bola Tinubu. They are; Zainab Abisola Tinubu, Habibat Tinubu and Olayinka Tinubu.
She is a stepmother to her husband’s three children from previous relationships – Olajide Tinubu (deceased), Folashade Tinubu (Iyaloja), and Oluwaseyi Tinubu.
She is a Christian and is an ordained pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God.
Her ordination took place in 2018 at the Old Arena of RCCG, Lagos/Ibadan Expressway where the church held its 66th annual convention themed “Dominion”.