Former Lagos State governor Babatunde Fashola has spoken about his marriage to a Christian despite his Muslim faith.
Mr Fashola, speaking on The Morayo Show with media personality Morayo Afolabi-Brown, described the term “unbeliever” as relative across religions.
He noted that Islam considers non-Muslims unbelievers, while Christianity regards non-Christians similarly, adding that such labels depend on perspective.
He highlighted the interfaith dynamics in his marriage, saying mutual respect and open communication have been key.
“You are asking my wife why she married an unbeliever. Islam also says non-Islamic practitioners are unbelievers. So whose belief are we talking about?” he said.
Fashola shared details of his upbringing, noting that his maternal grandparents were Christians and that he grew up with his Christian mother.
“My maternal grandparents were Christians. I grew up with my mother who is a Christian. I knew nothing about Islam,” Fashola said.
He recalled attending church services in Ebute Metta during his childhood.
The former governor said his experiences helped him understand faith diversity and contributed to the harmony in his household, especially amid Nigeria’s recurring tensions over interfaith marriages.
Fashola and his wife Abimbola have three children. They have been married for over two decades.
