ATIKU’S AIDE: TINUBU’S UMRAH TRIP WAS FOR PERSONAL PRAYERS, NOT NIGERIA
Read Time:2 Minute, 55 Second
By: Fasasi Hammad
Phrank Shaibu, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication to former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, has described President Bola Tinubu’s recent visit to Makkah, Saudi Arabia, to perform Umrah as a personal spiritual exercise rather than a trip undertaken on behalf of Nigeria.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, Shaibu said the president’s pilgrimage had been politicised.
He argued that although the visit was presented as an opportunity to pray for the country, Tinubu had actually travelled to seek personal spiritual guidance.
“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.
Shaibu added that Tinubu had reportedly described the pilgrimage as an opportunity to gain the wisdom needed to govern Nigeria and receive what he termed a spiritual endorsement for his second term.
He also noted that, according to the president’s account, his previous Umrah visit took place about three and a half years ago, before the 2023 general election.
Describing the trip as a “political Umrah”, Shaibu said there would ordinarily be nothing wrong with a Nigerian Muslim visiting the holy land for religious purposes.
He said, “It is for a personal purpose. Prayer is important. The holy land is precious. It is important to all Muslims.”
The Atiku aide also questioned Tinubu’s sincerity of faith, alleging that the president would not have allowed former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, a fellow Muslim, to remain in detention over what he described as a minor political disagreement if his religious commitment were genuine.
Shaibu argued that Tinubu had the influence to facilitate el-Rufai’s release, citing the president’s reported intervention that enabled the former governor to attend his mother’s burial.
“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.
He further linked the question of religious sincerity to the economic difficulties facing Nigerians, particularly the struggle of many citizens to afford basic food.
Shaibu also claimed that Atiku sponsored Tinubu’s first trip to Makkah, saying the former vice-president had taken him to the holy land because of his love for people and devotion to God.
“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.
He challenged anyone disputing the claim to contest it, adding that Atiku had a history of encouraging people to strengthen their relationship with God.
Shaibu also claimed that Atiku spent 30 days in Makkah during Ramadan last year but did not publicise the visit because it was a private spiritual exercise.
Background
Tinubu departed Abuja for Makkah, Saudi Arabia, on Thursday, October 29, to perform Umrah, an Islamic pilgrimage to the holy city.
In a statement announcing the trip, the President’s spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, said the visit would provide an opportunity for spiritual reflection, devotion and prayers for Nigeria’s peace, unity, stability and progress.
After performing Umrah on Friday, October 30, Tinubu described the exercise as a deeply spiritual experience and said he had used the opportunity to pray for Nigeria and its citizens.
On Sunday, the president hosted some governors and members of his delegation to a dinner in Makkah, where he prayed for God to transform Nigeria’s diversity into prosperity.
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