Professor Okey Ikechukwu, a leadership and human capital development scholar, said President Bola Tinubu's religious identity was not publicly noticeable during his tenure as Lagos State governor, arguing that communication failures by the APC have fueled unnecessary controversies over religious inclusivity.
According to a video posted on the official YouTube channel of Channels Television on Monday, July 13, 2026, while discussing the Muslim-Muslim ticket and political communication, he stated, “the President was governor for eight years, and when I was living in Lagos, I didn't even know he was a Muslim. He has Christians in his primary family.”
Professor Ikechukwu argued that Tinubu's personal religious identity was not the central issue during his years as Lagos governor, maintaining that public perception was shaped more by governance than faith, unlike the current political atmosphere surrounding national leadership debates.
He contended that political communication plays a significant role in managing public perception, adding that governments should clearly explain sensitive decisions affecting national unity instead of allowing speculation and misunderstanding to dominate public conversations across the country today.
The professor maintained that questions surrounding religious balance should be approached through constructive public engagement, saying inclusive communication could reduce tension while enabling citizens to better understand the reasoning behind major political decisions made by elected leaders.
He further observed that opposition parties should focus on presenting convincing alternatives to Nigerians instead of relying entirely on criticisms, arguing that effective organization, persuasive messaging, and practical political strategies remain essential ingredients for winning competitive democratic elections nationwide.
In his concluding remarks, Professor Ikechukwu urged political leaders to pay closer attention to communication and public perception, saying transparency and inclusiveness could strengthen confidence in democratic institutions while encouraging healthier political engagement among Nigerians across the federation.
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