The presence of Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, at Lambeth Palace yesterday was not a gesture of faith—it was a calculated act of diplomatic sabotage.
While millions of Nigerian Anglicans have followed the Church of Nigeria (CON) and GAFCON in formally severing ties with the See of Canterbury over its departure from biblical orthodoxy, the Presidency chose this exact moment to hand the Archbishop of Canterbury a PR victory on a silver platter.
For the Church of England, this was a “slam dunk.” By welcoming a high-profile Nigerian “pastor” to their pulpit, they successfully broadcast a narrative that the Global South’s resistance is merely the grumbling of a few “misguided” clerics, while the political heart of the continent remains subservient to Lambeth’s liberal agenda.
A Pattern of Diplomatic Incompetence
This debacle is not an isolated incident; it is the latest symptom of a Tinubu administration that appears rhythm-deaf to international sensitivities. From the embarrassing delay in posting career ambassadors to the ham-fisted handling of the ECOWAS crisis and the Niger Republic standoff, Nigeria’s foreign policy is currently defined by reactive blunders rather than proactive strategy.
By failing to consult the Primate of All Nigeria, The Most Rev’d Henry Ndukuba, before this trip, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has shown a staggering disdain for the domestic religious landscape. Was the Primate informed? If the Presidency bypassed him in order to “show the world” they are friendly with Christians to mask the systemic killings of believers at home, they have failed. You cannot claim to support Nigerian Christians while spitting on the collective stance of the largest Anglican province in the world!
The Failure of Leadership
The Primate himself must also be held to account. If the Church of Nigeria is truly the vanguard of the Global South, how did the Presidency feel comfortable enough to ignore its stance entirely? This visit suggests the administration views the Anglican leadership as a toothless entity that can be bypassed for a photo-op in London. This was a disastrous performance of “unity” that only served to humiliate the Nigerian Church. It was a betrayal of millions who have stood firm against Canterbury’s theological drift, only to see their own government bow at the very altar they have rightfully abandoned.
Chidi Akpan
St. John’s Church.
