My husband didn’t want me to return to senate, says Tinubu’s wife

Oluremi Tinubu, former first lady of Lagos, says her husband, who is national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), initially opposed her plan to return to the national assembly for a second term as representative of Lagos central senatorial district.

She disclosed this while responding to questions at a conference organised by the south-west region of the Department For International Development (DFID).

According to her, her district leaders got the form for her and talked her husband into allowing her to run for the position.

“Asiwaju likes his wife to be at home and what is more confusing to me is that most Muslim men do not want their wives to work, but I am a hard worker,” she said.

“People have been saying that I got to this position because I am Asiwaju’s wife. What they did not realise is that in the past election, my husband asked me not to go for a second term.

“It was the leaders in my district that got me the form and talked to him that they wanted me to go back. You can go to my district, the elites might not know me but the grassroots are the ones supporting and voting massively for me.

“I think that is enough for me and that is how you can get elected, you have to really identify with your people; if you really know your people, they will stand up for you.”

Tinubu said she fought and worked hard as it was difficult getting the vote of the masses.

“When I got the bill to run for primaries, I told my husband that I needed money and he said no money,” she said.

“I fought with the people in my constituency because they said I have to give them more money and I said no, what about the ones I have been giving to you before? If you are not going to vote, so be it.

“They said that they were just voting for me because of Asiwaju; and I responded that Asiwaju is not even supporting me, then you can go and vote for him.

“But I’m grateful they voted for me. I have realised that when you are elected, you have to go back and work with your constituency because that is where your support and vote rest.”