President Bola Tinubu has travelled to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, to perform Umrah, the lesser Hajj pilgrimage, and pray for Nigeria’s peace, unity and stability, the Presidency has said.
Tinubu’s spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, said the trip would provide the president with an opportunity for spiritual reflection and prayers for the country’s continued progress.
According to Onanuga, Tinubu will perform the religious rites associated with Umrah and seek Allah’s guidance and blessings for Nigeria and its people.
The president’s media aide, Olusegun Dada, also dismissed speculation that the trip was intended for medical checks, insisting that it was for prayers for the country and Tinubu’s re-election bid.
In a post on X, Dada described the journey as an opportunity to commit the president’s political ambitions into God’s hands as he begins another major political journey.
Tinubu, a Muslim from southern Nigeria, last travelled to Saudi Arabia for Umrah in 2022, ahead of the All Progressives Congress presidential primary.
Unlike the Hajj, which takes place on fixed dates annually and is a religious obligation for Muslims who are physically and financially able to undertake it, Umrah can be performed at any time of the year and involves a shorter set of rites.
The trip comes as Nigeria prepares for another presidential election, with security and economic challenges expected to feature prominently in the campaign.
The country continues to face multiple security threats, including an Islamist insurgency, attacks and kidnappings by criminal gangs, land-related clashes and separatist unrest.
Tinubu is expected to face former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi among his major challengers in the next election.
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