The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has said many Nigerian leaders command respect and honour internationally but are often criticised, abused and undervalued by citizens at home.
Mrs Tinubu made the observation in a post on her Facebook page on Friday, days after United States President Donald Trump publicly described her as a “very respected woman” at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, DC.
The annual event, attended by members of the US Congress, religious leaders and international guests, focused on faith, leadership and global religious freedom.
While addressing participants, Trump acknowledged the presence of the Nigerian First Lady and praised her role as both Nigeria’s First Lady and an ordained pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God.
“We’re honoured to be joined today by the First Lady of Nigeria, who also happens to serve as a Christian pastor at the largest church in Nigeria,” Trump said. “A very respected woman.”
Reacting to the recognition, Mrs Tinubu lamented what she described as a growing gap between how Nigerian leaders are perceived abroad and how they are treated at home.
She blamed the trend on hate-driven narratives and political manipulation, which she said had shaped public attitudes against leaders.
“Most of our leaders are highly respected and honoured abroad, yet many Nigerians fail to value what they have because of hatred and narratives planted in their minds by political paymasters,” she wrote.
The First Lady also criticised the culture of public ridicule and online abuse directed at leaders, warning that such conduct weakens national cohesion.
“They bully these leaders, speak ill of them, demean them, curse them and seize upon their mistakes to ridicule and mock them across social media,” she added.
She stressed that Nigeria’s progress depended on unity, mutual respect and collective responsibility, urging citizens to support rather than tear down those in leadership.
“Nigeria is built on love, unity and collective effort toward shared success. We must work hand in hand with our leaders to make our country great,” she said.
Her remarks come amid renewed international attention on Nigeria’s security situation, following claims by Trump and some United States lawmakers that Christians face widespread violence in the country.
In late 2025, the United States designated Nigeria as a country of particular concern over alleged attacks on Christians, a move strongly rejected by the Federal Government.
The government maintained that Nigeria’s security challenges are driven by terrorism and criminality affecting citizens across religious and ethnic divides, not targeted religious persecution.