President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has announced the conclusion of his visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The President disclosed this in a post on his official X account shortly after concluding his visit.
During the visit, the president performed the lesser Hajj, known as Umrah, and was granted the rare privilege of entering the Holy Kaaba in Makkah to offer prayers.
Tinubu expressed gratitude to the Saudi authorities, particularly the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, for granting him and members of his delegation access to the sacred structure.
He also appreciated the Saudi leadership for the hospitality and care extended to him and his delegation throughout their stay in the country.
“I have concluded my visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where, together with members of my delegation, I had the rare honour of entering the Holy Kaaba to pray, and of performing Umrah,” Tinubu wrote.
He added, “I am deeply grateful to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and to Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman for extending this privilege to us, and for their gracious hospitality and brotherly care.”
The President described the gesture as a reflection of the longstanding relationship between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia, particularly their shared religious and diplomatic ties.
According to him, the opportunity to enter the Holy Kaaba provided a special moment to seek divine intervention for Nigeria and its people.
“It reflects the enduring bonds of faith and friendship between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia,” he stated.
Tinubu further disclosed that he used the opportunity to pray for the country’s progress and the wellbeing of its citizens.
“In those sacred moments, I prayed for peace, unity and prosperity for our dear nation and for all Nigerians,” he added.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that Tinubu had earlier expressed confidence that Almighty Allah had answered his prayers for wisdom and resilience to enable him to continue leading the country.
The President made the disclosure on Monday while reflecting on his spiritual experience in Saudi Arabia, where he was led into the Holy Kaaba by Sheikh Dahlulah Muthawal of Masjid al-Haram.
According to a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu described the opportunity as a historic and deeply cherished spiritual privilege.
During the interaction, the President revealed that he had asked Allah for wisdom and resilience to continue serving Nigerians.
“Well, I asked for wisdom and resilience to continue to serve the people. I know that prayer has been granted. Before the 2023 election, I did the same thing. I asked Allah to bless my Umrah then, and He did. And I promised that I would come back to thank Him,” he said.
Tinubu also reflected on Surah Aal-Imran, Verse 26 of the Holy Qur’an, which speaks about Allah’s ultimate authority over power and sovereignty.
He maintained that political authority was a responsibility that must be exercised with humility and in accordance with God’s dictates.
“There is no other God but Almighty Allah. He is the giver and the taker. He owns power and authority. He says, ‘If I give you, use it well. If you don’t use it in accordance with my dictates, I can take it from you and give it to another person. I am the only One who has that authority,” the President stated.
He further described his emergence as Nigeria’s leader as a special blessing from Allah, adding that the experience had strengthened his commitment to national development.
“My commitment to Project Nigeria is higher. I am determined to usher in prosperity and fully develop the country, consistent with the wish of Allah and the support of the people,” he said.
On the economy, Tinubu expressed optimism about the direction of his administration, describing the country’s economic foundation as solid.
“The foundation is solid, and the economy has come out of the dark tunnel. This is inspiring,” he said.
He also emphasised the need to invest in young Nigerians, noting that the decisions taken by present leaders would determine how future generations remember them.
“We need to build a future for our youth. If we don’t invest in their future, how do we want to be remembered as leaders 50 years from now? That’s the main thing. So this is a rare privilege to lead the country,” he added.
The President reiterated his administration’s commitment to strengthening the economy, expanding opportunities for young people and creating an environment where Nigerians could achieve their potential.
Meanwhile, Tinubu’s pilgrimage had attracted political reactions, with former Kogi West senator and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dino Melaye, challenging the President to a Quranic citation competition.
In a post on X, Melaye said he would like to engage Tinubu in a competition involving citations from the Holy Qur’an immediately after his return from Saudi Arabia.
“Now that Alhaji Bola Tinubu is in Umrah. Immediately he comes back I challenge him to a Quranic citation competition with me. No one can mock God. SDM,” the former senator wrote.