Mahdi Shehu Accuses First Lady Oluremi Tinubu of Bias in Renewed Hope Charity Interventions
By Joseph Iyaji | Akahi News
Activist Alleges Favouritism in Relief Distribution
Human rights activist, Mahdi Shehu, has accused Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, of showing open bias in her charitable interventions under the Renewed Hope project.
In a strongly worded statement shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, Shehu alleged that the First Lady’s visits to disaster-affected areas and her relief donations appear to favour Christian-majority communities while neglecting Muslim-dominated states.
“Her body language, her numerous charitable spendings, and her visits to disaster locations all show that the Renewed Hope project is tilted too heavily towards her Christian community,” Shehu wrote. “These open biases do not raise hopes but rather dash hopes, create more divisions and hate which ultimately destroys unity, harmony and cohesion.”
Comparison Between Christian and Muslim Communities
Akahi News gathered that Shehu specifically cited disaster-hit states such as Benue, Plateau, Bauchi, and Kogi—where Christians constitute the majority—claiming they received swift visits and “generous donations running into billions of naira” from the First Lady.
By contrast, he argued that Muslim-majority states like Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, and Niger had either been completely overlooked or given what he described as “peanuts in cash and drops of relief materials.”
“Disaster victims, mostly Muslims, are watching a mother visibly tilted towards her chosen and preferred children,” Shehu wrote. “These open biases do not raise hopes but rather dash them, creating more divisions, hatred, and ultimately destroying unity and harmony.”
Calls for Fairness and Reflection
Backing his criticism with biblical references, Shehu cited Psalms 25:8 and Isaiah 32:1-5, urging the First Lady to embrace fairness, justice, and inclusivity in her interventions.
He appealed to Mrs. Tinubu to reflect deeply on her role as the mother of the nation, stressing that charity efforts should foster unity rather than highlight religious or regional differences.
“The Renewed Hope project should be a bridge, not a wall. It must heal wounds, not deepen them,” Shehu concluded.
Presidency Yet to Respond
As at the time of filing this report, the Presidency and the office of the First Lady had not issued an official response to the allegations.
Political analysts told Akahi News that while charity efforts are often commendable, perceived favouritism in their distribution can spark unnecessary tension in a country already grappling with religious and ethnic divides.
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