The Presidency and the camp of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar have exchanged words over President Bola Tinubu’s recent trip to Saudi Arabia to perform the lesser Hajj, also known as Umrah.
The disagreement comes amid preparations for the 2027 general elections, with Atiku’s camp accusing the President of using the religious visit for political purposes.
Speaking on Politics Today on Channels Television, the Special Assistant to the President on International Affairs and Protocols, Ademola Oshodi, said Tinubu’s trip was not politically motivated but was undertaken to pray for Nigeria and its citizens.
Oshodi said the President’s access to the Kaaba demonstrated the respect Nigeria commands internationally and reflected Tinubu’s concern for the country’s welfare and the peaceful conduct of next year’s elections.
He argued that the opposition was politicising the President’s religious activities, adding that religion remained a personal relationship between an individual and God.
Responding to suggestions that Tinubu’s decision to travel with Muslim governors from the North was an attempt to regain support in the region ahead of the election, Oshodi dismissed the interpretation.
He said the visit should not be viewed through the lens of regional politics, insisting that the President was seeking divine guidance on how best to lead the country.
Oshodi also noted that Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, whom he identified as an opposition figure, was part of the entourage.
According to him, Tinubu has performed Umrah several times and has also undertaken Hajj during his lifetime.
However, Atiku’s spokesman, Phrank Shaibu, described the President’s visit as a political exercise aimed at misleading Nigerians amid widespread economic hardship and insecurity.
Shaibu said performing Umrah was a personal religious responsibility that should not be turned into a political event.
He questioned the President’s decision to travel with Northern governors while his administration had several officials from the South-West, describing the arrangement as hypocritical.
“The problem is not going to Umrah; it is the sincerity of the man’s heart and the sincerity of his faith,” Shaibu said.
He argued that Nigerians were still struggling with high food prices, unaffordable education and transportation costs, as well as insecurity.
Shaibu also challenged Tinubu to reflect on the state of the economy, arguing that the hardship Nigerians were experiencing had worsened since the President assumed office in 2023.
He said the administration’s reforms had placed additional pressure on ordinary citizens while benefiting the President’s associates.
The Presidency has continued to defend Tinubu’s visit as a religious journey, while Atiku’s camp maintains that the timing and public presentation of the trip have political implications.
