American TV show host Tony Perkins has revealed that First Lady Remi Tinubu approached him to discuss religious freedom issues in Nigeria, but he reje
American TV show host Tony Perkins has revealed that First Lady Remi Tinubu approached him to discuss religious freedom issues in Nigeria, but he rejected her request because he does not want his platform to be used to cover up happenings in Nigeria.
Perkins, who hosts Washington Watch, disclosed this during an edition with U.S. lawmaker Chris Smith on February 4, when religious freedom was discussed.
Smith was speaking about President Bola Tinubu’s government denying the killing of Christians in Nigeria and yet hiring American lobbyists to downplay the issue when Perkins revealed that Mrs Tinubu approached him to be featured on his platform.
“The First Lady of Nigeria was here this week, and in fact, they wanted to come on the programme to talk about religious freedom, and I said, ‘I’m not gonna meet with them or have a meeting with anybody,’” Perkins said.
The broadcast journalist added, “I’m not gonna give them a platform to cover up what they’re doing in Nigeria.”
Tinubu visited the U.S. and attended the National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday. Her presence was recognised at the event by President Donald Trump, a development that pro-Tinubu supporters celebrated as a major diplomatic win for the Nigerian government amid pressure from the U.S. government.
Tinubu has been under pressure from the American government since Trump declared Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern over the killing of Christians in November.
The first lady’s visit comes months after Tinubu splashed millions of dollars on Republican lobbyists to burnish his tainted reputation in Washington following Trump’s 2025 remarks denouncing Nigeria as “a disgrace” under his leadership.
