Patience, the wife of former President Goodluck Jonathan, was the target of a remark made by First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu at her chieftaincy installation as “Yeye Asiwaju Gbogbo Ile Oodua” in Ile-Ife, Osun State, on Sunday.
The former First Lady was seated among the guests when Mrs. Tinubu acknowledged dignitaries during her victory speech in a widely circulated video on social media.
Oluremi Tinubu, dressed in white ceremonial garb, stopped her welcomes to speak directly to Mrs. Jonathan. This move swiftly caused Nigerians on X (previously Twitter) to express disgust.
“Your Eminence, the Sultan and all the other Obas,” the First Lady remarked in the widely shared video. Thank you, Mama P. Are you not going to smile? I’m wishing you well, Mama P. I appreciate your presence very lot.
She thanked the traditional elders as she wrapped up her welcomes, saying, “But I said I wanted to greet our royal fathers who have come to honor Ooni and, by extension, me; everybody said I should just leave protocols.” At this point, the Oloris can sit. I express my gratitude to the royal fathers who traveled great distances, and there is even a representation from my mother’s side. I appreciate you all. I’m happy and honored that today isn’t exactly a day for lengthy statements.
Netizens saw the exchange as inappropriately casual or as lighthearted banter that was unsuitable for the installation ceremony’s solemnity.
In response, a user on X going by the handle Tochukwu commented, “Her status may appear to have changed, but her innate mannerism remains as uncouth and as classless as it has always been.”
“This woman is uncouth,” commented Wendu, another user on X. Although she wouldn’t normally be considered an elite, she is perhaps one of the most “refined” characters in APC.
He went on, “Oh, I’m not disappointed.” She has always been this way, even before she was appointed first lady. It is therefore not shocking. Her exclusion from the spotlight for a significant portion of this term is more striking. There are wealthy people but few elites in Nigeria. Nothing sets them apart from the typical Nigerian, other from their financial prosperity.
“Having this family as a figure is the worst thing that has ever happened to this nation,” one Tobi posted on Facebook.
“You called the King of your mother’s Nation as the representative?,” said a user going by the handle Mesiri. Did you not salute him as is customary? “Shameful”
“I’m curious about what the Redeemed church saw in her that led them to appoint her as a pastor. Is it her money alone, or is it her spiritual life? Another X user, Robustlife, said, “I am starting to look at some churches differently.”
Conversely, a member on X going by the name Kelez remarked, “We must not make issues out of nothing because she’s Tinubu.” The way it came out may be crass, but the goal should be the most essential thing and not necessarily an insult, in my opinion. This is just a nice and informal conversation to make Mama Peace relax or smile.
