FACT CHECK: Did Tinubu’s wife threaten to invoke deities to chase Igbo from Lagos?

Senator Oluremi Tinubu, wife of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate in the forthcoming general elections, is trending in a viral video across blogs and social media platforms. In the video, Mrs Tinubu, clad in Ankara attire with a scarf to match,  was in the company of other individuals who were laughing […]

Senator Oluremi Tinubu, wife of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate in the forthcoming general elections, is trending in a viral video across blogs and social media platforms.

In the video, Mrs Tinubu, clad in Ankara attire with a scarf to match,  was in the company of other individuals who were laughing as she boasted that the deities of Lagos would be summoned to drive out the Igbos. The video has generated several reactions.

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She said the Igbos residing in the state “were proving difficult despite the love shown to them.”

“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.

“You are not the only tribe in this place, Hausa are here, we accommodate them, Calabar are here, we accommodate them. But Igbo are proving difficult. We will inherit you. Despite the love we have for you… others are here and we accommodated them.”

Verification

Preliminary investigations by Daily Trust revealed that the video is an old one being recirculated. The video was shot in 2019 ahead of the general elections held at the time.

Though Senator Remi spoke in Yoruba language, many tweeps and those who reacted to her comments say her tone was only misjudged and the whole conversation misconstrued to achieve an ulterior motive.

One Twitter user, @BadmusAdeyemi12 said, “She was just joking in the video. She didn’t mean what she was saying. That could be seen in her gesture.”

On his part, @4eyedmonk said, “…How can you say Remi Tinubu hates Igbo when in the same video she said, ‘Pelu ba she nife yin to,’ meaning, ‘considering how much we love you Igbo?'”

Similarly, the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) where she serves as a pastor has reacted to the viral video. This is even as some individuals have called out the Senator and pastor for featuring in different ‘hateful’ videos. Some also questioned the status of her ordination.

A twitter user @Nwafresh wrote: “For the fact that Remi Tinubu is an ordained pastor in RCCG and still maintains her position after different hateful videos against the Igbo makes me understand why the Bible said that judgment will start from the house of God. Remi is an Antichrist.”

The RCCG Head of Media and Public Relations, Pastor Olaitan Olubiyi who spoke with The Punch said the church was not aware of the video.

He said, “We are not aware(of the video) and I’m sure Remi Tinubu was not speaking as a pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God.”

“I’m not in a position to answer that because the church knows what it considers before ordination and social media does not dictate to the church what the church should do. She has her life,” he concluded.

Verdict

The video is actually true but old. However, it is being interpreted by many on social media as a fresh statement by the senator.

Conclusion

Having reviewed the facts about the viral video, Daily Trust can confirm that the video is an old one being recirculated.

 

This fact check is produced in partnership with the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD)