Olayiwola Matthew
Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has addressed the growing controversy over her conduct at the 10th year coronation anniversary of the Ooni of Ife, Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi.
At the event, where she was also conferred with the title Yeye Asiwaju Gbogbo Ile Oodua, she had asked Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, to stop singing or she would put off his microphone.
The incident occurred on Sunday as Governor Adeleke mounted the podium to pay tribute to the Ooni of Ife and to her over the chieftaincy title.
“Enough with the music, or I’ll switch off the microphone,” she said, before telling the governor he had “five minutes to conclude” his remarks.
Reacting to the growing public backlash that followed, she stated on her Facebook page that followers tend to amplify minor missteps.
She made these comments while posting a photo of herself with the Osun State governor on Facebook.
“Those entrusted with leadership understand their duties and how to steer the affairs of society. More often, it is the followers and critics who scrutinize every step, amplify minor missteps, and turn them into needless controversy,” she noted.
Nigerians have continued to condemn her action, with some describing it as a national disgrace.
An X user, Emmanuel Isijola, with the handle @Olariches82, wrote:
“This is disrespectful, a wife of a President walking up to a sitting governor on stage to give instructions in this manner is wrong. Those that were around during the saga between Rotimi Amarchi and Patience Jonathan would remember incident like this one at Okrika. We just got a replay in Osun State.”
Another X user, @Hollumuyiwa, labelled the incident a national disgrace.
“Wow that’s disrespectful. I don’t think we’ve seen any First Lady behave so disrespectful towards a sitting governor in this manner before.This is a national disgrace,” the X user wrote.
@UcheDec_ wrote: “I give you 5 minutes as if she’s an elected official l. The kind of dictatorial mannerism of Remo Tinubu is unacceptable thus, given them second tenure will spell doom for Nigerians.”
Another X user, @Pakalecimo, wrote: “Give your speech & stop singing or I turnoff the mic” – This is the statement of our Queen mother and wife of the president Remi Tinubu to his Excellency, Governor Adeleke of Osun state. The president’s wife walked up to the governor who was about to deliver his speech, told him to stop singing lest she collects the microphone from him. The governor shamed and intimidated by the president’s wife, tried to hum his song to an end, saw Remi Tinubu returning to him with a stern look. She warned the governor again to stop singing while pridefully attempted to snatch the governor’s speech from him. This is public humiliation and disgrace to the Dancing Governor. He has the legal right to file a suit against our Queen Mother, Oluremi Tinubu, the New YeYe Asiwaju GboGbo Ile Oodua. Ignorance of the law is no excuse.”
The Osun State government has yet to comment on the development or the public outrage as of the time of this report.