The Lagos State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has issued a strong defence of Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, following online criticism over her brief intervention during the speech of Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, at the 10th coronation anniversary of the Ooni of Ife.
In a statement on Tuesday, the party’s spokesman, Mogaji (Hon.) Seye Oladejo, said Mrs Tinubu’s action—which occurred as the governor broke into a short chant before delivering his remarks—was “well-intentioned, measured, and patriotic,” adding that it was neither disrespectful nor inappropriate.
Oladejo noted that the First Lady’s gesture, made at a culturally significant ceremony where she had just been conferred with the title Yeye Asiwaju Gbogbo Ile Oodua, was a reminder of the seriousness of public office and the expectations placed on elected leaders.
According to him, governance “is not a vocation for entertainment,” but a sacred mandate requiring discipline, emotional intelligence, and a strong focus on service delivery. He argued that the time spent on public theatrics is time taken away from policy execution and addressing the real needs of citizens.
“It has sadly become an aberration that the main takeaway from events where Governor Ademola Adeleke appears is entertainment,” Oladejo said. “Governance must inspire hope through policy, not distraction through performance.”
The Lagos APC spokesman stressed that Osun State faces significant economic, social, and infrastructural challenges, insisting the people deserve leadership defined by measurable outcomes rather than what he described as “theatrics.”
He described any attempt to portray the First Lady’s gesture as an attack as “disingenuous,” insisting it was instead a “patriotic nudge” meant to uphold the dignity of the governor’s office.
Oladejo also cautioned that Governor Adeleke’s public conduct shapes the perception of Osun State among investors, development partners, and Nigerians at large. With the next governorship election approaching, he said that voters will ultimately evaluate leaders based on tangible achievements rather than popularity or performance style.
“Elections are not won on dance floors but in the hearts of citizens whose lives have been improved by purposeful leadership,” the statement added.
The Lagos APC urged Adeleke to “heed wise counsel” and focus fully on the responsibilities of governance, warning that the Osun mandate is “too precious to be trivialised by avoidable optics.”
Meanwhile, Senator Oluremi Tinubu also addressed the controversy on her official Facebook page, writing:
“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.”
The incident, captured in a widely circulated video, has continued to generate mixed reactions among Nigerians, with some defending the First Lady’s intervention and others viewing it as an unnecessary intrusion.
Governor Adeleke, known for his expressive and musical public style, has not issued an official response as of press time.
