Reported by: L. Imafidon | Edited by: Pierre Antoine
A viral statement attributed to Sheikh Muh’d Sanusi Mai Fassara has triggered debate over religion and political power in Nigeria, after claiming that the President’s wife, the CBN Governor, INEC Chairman and EFCC Chairman are pastors while no major office is occupied by a Sheikh.
Checks show the quote is circulating mainly on social media, but I did not find a credible full video, official transcript, or verified media interview confirming the exact context in which Sheikh Sanusi Mai Fassara made the statement. Because of that, the statement should be treated as a viral claim until the original recording or verified source is available.
Some parts of the claim are supported by public records. Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, is an ordained pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, and RCCG General Overseer Enoch Adeboye recently defended her pastoral status, saying her ordination came before her husband became president.
The EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, has also been widely reported as a pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, City of Refuge, Lagos Province 12, Shasha, Lagos State.
However, the claim that the current CBN Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, is a pastor was not supported by the official CBN biography checked. The CBN profile identifies him as a banker, public policy expert and former Lagos commissioner, but does not state that he is a pastor.
The claim about the INEC Chairman also requires caution. INEC’s official profile identifies Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, as the commission’s chairman, describing him as a legal scholar and administrator sworn in on October 23, 2025. The official profile checked does not identify him as a pastor.
The broader argument in the viral statement reflects Nigeria’s long-running sensitivity over religious balance in public appointments. Since the 2023 election, debates over faith and power have remained active, especially after President Bola Tinubu, a Muslim, ran on a Muslim-Muslim ticket with Vice President Kashim Shettima. Supporters of such political arrangements often argue that competence should come before religion, while critics say Nigeria’s diversity requires visible religious and regional balancing.
The controversy also shows how religious identity can become a political weapon in Nigeria’s public discourse. While some offices mentioned in the viral claim are currently held by Christians or people associated with Christian institutions, available checks do not confirm all the specific “pastor” descriptions attached to them. It is also important to note that the First Lady is not a constitutionally established executive office like the CBN, INEC or EFCC leadership.
As of this report, there has been no official response from the Presidency, CBN, INEC or EFCC to the viral statement. No major national media outlet has published a full verified account of the cleric’s remarks beyond social media circulation.
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