*First Lady refutes closure allegations, CAN adopts wait-and-see attitude
For six Sundays since the inauguration of Bola Tinubu/Kashim Shettima presidency took power, the Aso Villa Christian Chapel in the Presidential Villa is yet to hold a single Worship service on a Sunday, Quest Times can report.
Our checks reveal that for six consecutive Sundays, the facility has not played host to regular Sunday Service fueling insinuations that the Chapel may have been shut down by the Tinubu administration.
Last week Tuesday, word went round that the First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, an ordained Assistant Pastor in the RCCG came to the Chapel to pray. Chapel staff, especially choristers got wind of it and showed up to fellowship with the First Lady and some of her aides, but she asked them to leave in what they see as “a rude shock.”
Unlike the President and VP, the First Lady is a Christian and her resolve to use the Chapel may assuage fears that a Muslim-Muslim ticket in the Presidency might reopen fears of religious domination at the nation’s seat of power.
Muslim-Muslim ticket/Islamisation agenda
Observers are concerned that the delay in reopening the chapel well over one month after the inauguration could unwittingly reinforce the narrative of the lingering fear of Islamisation agenda prompted by the APC Muslim-Muslim ticket.
Several Nigerian organisations, including the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), have spoken out against the same-faith ticket, claiming that it threatens Nigeria’s religious harmony.
During the 2023 Presidential campaigns, some sceptics on the issue, including former Delta state Governor Ifeanyi Okowa warned that the Aso Villa Chapel may be closed for four years as a result of a victory for the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s Muslim-Muslim ticket in the presidential election.
But this has been refuted numerous times. Festus Keyamo, a spokesman for the Bola Tinubu Campaign Council, has stated that if her husband is elected president, the wife of the All Progressive Congress (APC)’s then-presidential candidate will be in charge of the Aso Rock chapel.
Tinubu chose Kashim Shettima, a former governor of Borno who is also a Muslim, as his running mate for the 2023 presidential election. Key parties, in particular the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), expressed outrage over the matter.
Government’s Response:
In response to the controversies, the government has cited logistical and administrative reasons for the closure of the Aso Rock Chapel.
In a statement signed by the Special Assistant to the First Lady on Media, Busola Kukoyi Remi, she said, “Mr President is yet to appoint a Chaplain for the chapel after the exit of the last Chaplain as he only reserves the right to appoint a chaplain.’’
“Presently, there are weekly fellowship going on at the chapel including mid week fellowship on Tuesdays, however, Mr President is yet to appoint a Chaplain for the chapel after the exit of the last Chaplain as he only reserves the right to appoint a chaplain,” the statement explained further.
The government argues that the chapel’s closure is a temporary measure. The government maintains that the closure is not intended to infringe upon religious freedom or promote any particular religious agenda.
Christians React:
The closure of the Aso Rock Chapel has sparked a significant public outcry and interests.
Reactions from social media shows overwhelming condemnation of Mrs. Tinubu’s action.
On Twitter Veronica Naomi (@VeronicaaNaomi) wrote “A so called Pastor of Redeemed, Jazebel Remi Tinubu, locked Aso Rock Chapel because they did not support her husband during the presidential election…”
The chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Kwara state, Rev. Sunday Adewole speaking exclusively to THE QUEST TIMES said “We need to give it [the alleged closure of the chapel] some time before we draw a conclusion. If after sometime they refuse to appoint [a chaplain, they we will know there is element of truth in the rumour.”
Other notable voices have spoken against the reported closure of the facility. Moses Ade-Ojo, a lawyer and public affairs commentator speaking to this newspaper said the rumour should be taken with the wave of the hand.