President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is scheduled to leave Abuja on Thursday for Makkah, Saudi Arabia, to perform Umrah, the Presidency announced. The president is expected to pray for Nigeria’s peace, unity, stability and continued progress during the visit.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, said the trip offers Mr. Tinubu an opportunity for spiritual reflection and devotion. While in Makkah, he will perform the rites of Umrah and seek divine guidance and blessings for the country and its people.
Before departing Abuja, the president was also expected to commission equipment acquired by the Nigerian Air Force at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport. He is expected back in Nigeria next week after completing the spiritual exercise.
Umrah is a voluntary Islamic pilgrimage to Makkah that can be undertaken at any time of the year, unlike the Hajj, which follows a fixed date in the Islamic calendar.
The trip has drawn political reaction. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, in a statement by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council, challenged the president to provide daily proof of his presence in Makkah. He alleged that the pilgrimage could be a cover for a trip to France, and raised questions about a reported $20 billion loan request, how the trip is being funded, and the president’s health. He said he and other Nigerians would join in prayers for the country, but cautioned against invoking religion without sincerity.
The claims are allegations from an opposition figure and have not been independently verified. Reactions on social media have been mixed.
