‘Political Umrah’ — Atiku’s aide says Tinubu went to Makkah to pray for himself, not Nigeria

Phrank Shaibu, senior special assistant on public communication to Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), says President Bola Tinubu’s recent visit to Makkah, Saudi Arabia, to perform Umrah was for personal reasons and not on behalf of the nation.

Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today aired on Monday, Shaibu said Tinubu’s Umrah trip had been politicised.

Shaibu argued that although the spiritual exercise was presented as being for Nigeria, the president had actually gone to pray for himself.

“It is for himself. He has gone there to pray for himself. In trying to mask this trip, they claimed it was for the nation,” he said.

“And he has come out to say, oh, he has received the wisdom he needed to rule this country. And that he has gotten what they call spiritual endorsement for his second term.

“On their own account, on the president’s account, the last time he came for Umrah was three and a half years ago, before his election. So, for them, they have politicised it.

“I will call it political Umrah. Permit me to use that expression. If not, ordinarily, there is nothing for us to discuss when a Nigerian who worships and who believes in the Islamic faith visits the holy land.

“It is for a personal purpose. Prayer is important. The holy land is precious. It is important to all Muslims.”

Shaibu also questioned Tinubu’s “sincerity of faith”, alleging that the president would not have kept Nasir el-Rufai, former governor of Kaduna and a fellow Muslim, in detention over a “minor political disagreement” if he were sincere in his faith.

He said Tinubu had the power to facilitate el-Rufai’s release, citing the president’s intervention to allow the former governor to bury his mother.

“That was not the court. So, he knows what to do. The conditions they gave for his bail are obnoxious, completely obnoxious. That is a fellow Muslim,” he said.

“So, when we’re talking of sincerity of faith, we’re talking of people, Nigerians being unable to feed.”

Shaibu also claimed that Atiku sponsored Tinubu’s first trip to Makkah.

“The first trip Bola Tinubu made to the holy land was on the bills of Atiku Abubakar. He took him there. It’s on record,” he said.

“They should contest it. He took him there because of his love for people, because of his love for the Almighty as well. He loves to bring people to know God, to love God and to serve him well.”

He further claimed that the former vice-president spent 30 days in Makkah during Ramadan last year but did not publicise the visit because it was a personal spiritual exercise.

Back Story

Tinubu departed Abuja on Thursday, October 29 for Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

Bayo Onanuga, presidential spokesperson, said in a statement that Tinubu would perform Umrah, an Islamic spiritual exercise involving a pilgrimage to the Holy City.

Onanuga said the visit would give the president an opportunity for “spiritual reflection, devotion, and prayers for Nigeria’s peace, unity, stability, and continued progress”.

Early on Friday, October 30, after performing Umrah in Makkah, Tinubu said the exercise was a deeply spiritual experience for him, describing it as an opportunity to pray for Nigeria and its citizens.

On Sunday, Tinubu hosted some governors and members of his delegation to a dinner in Makkah, during which he prayed that God would turn Nigeria’s diversity into prosperity. (TheCable)