She described feeling unprepared to serve as First Lady of a nation with over 240 million people from diverse backgrounds. For days, she isolated herself, reflecting on her ability to fulfill the role without failing. In the period between the election and her husband’s inauguration on May 29, 2023, she often wept in private, struggling with a sense of betrayal from political allies and friends she had once trusted.
Despite the victory, she felt alone, hurt by those she had considered close, including members of her spiritual community. However, she also acknowledged that some individuals provided comfort and reassurance of God’s purpose for her life. She admitted to moments of self-doubt, calling them "pity parties," but found strength through spiritual guidance.
The 2023 elections were highly divisive, with President Bola Tinubu’s win contested by opposition parties, though the courts upheld the results. The First Lady noted that some of her husband’s closest allies were absent during his campaign.
As inauguration approached, she shifted focus to planning her official programme, aligning it with the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda. She named her initiative the Renewed Hope Initiative, targeting agriculture, economic empowerment, education, health, and social investment.
She also detailed personal preparations for the inauguration, including selecting traditional attire for herself and her husband. The emotional toll of the Muslim-Muslim ticket controversy further isolated her within her church, the Redeemed Christian Church of God, where political divisions became apparent.
Reflecting on the experience, she recognized the diversity of political views within religious communities and the challenges of navigating faith and public service.