moRGANABLe politics/governance
Tinubu also expressed surprise at the green and white colours used in the fencing around the sacred structure, saying they reminded him of Nigeria’s national identity
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President Bola Tinubu has concluded his four-day spiritual visit to Saudi Arabia, saying he prayed inside the Holy Kaaba in Makkah for divine wisdom, strength and resilience to continue serving Nigerians.
The President, who performed the lesser Islamic pilgrimage, Umrah, also said he prayed for peace, unity and prosperity in Nigeria, describing his opportunity to enter the sacred structure as a rare privilege and an indication of the longstanding relationship between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia.
Tinubu disclosed this in a statement on Monday, following the conclusion of his spiritual visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
He expressed appreciation to Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Mohammed bin Salman, for granting him and members of his delegation access to the Holy Kaaba.
The President described the experience as an extraordinary honour, noting that the opportunity reflected the enduring bonds of faith, friendship and mutual respect between the two countries.
“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.
“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.
“It reflects the enduring bonds of faith and friendship between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia.
“In those sacred moments, I prayed for peace, unity and prosperity for our dear nation and for all Nigerians,” he wrote on his X handle.
According to a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu was led into the Kaaba by Sheikh Dahlulah Muthawal of Masjid al-Haram.
He was accompanied by members of his delegation, including ministers, state governors and business leaders who travelled with him to the holy city.
Speaking after the visit, the President expressed gratitude to the Saudi authorities for the recognition and hospitality extended to him as Nigeria’s leader.
“It is an honour that I enjoyed, and it is gracious of them to have allowed me to enter the Kaaba. This is history,” he said.
Tinubu also expressed surprise at the green and white colours used in the fencing around the sacred structure, saying they reminded him of Nigeria’s national identity.
“I want to say a big thank you for the faith, for the recognition. I can’t believe the fencing of the Kaaba is in Green-White-Green, which reminds us of the Nigerian identity.
“I thank the Crown Prince and all the administrators of the holy land. I thank them for the hospitality and recognition given to me as the leader of the delegation and the country,” he added.
The President said his prayers inside the Kaaba centred on obtaining divine guidance and the capacity to fulfil his responsibilities to Nigerians.
He expressed confidence that his request for wisdom and resilience had been granted, recalling that he had made a similar prayer before the 2023 presidential election.
“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,” Tinubu said.
Reflecting on the Quranic teachings in Surah Aal-Imran, Verse 26, which establishes Allah as the ultimate owner of sovereignty and authority, the President said political power was a divine responsibility that should be exercised with humility and a sense of accountability.
He emphasised that leadership positions were not permanent possessions but privileges that could be granted or withdrawn by God.
“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,’” he said, interpreting the Quranic passage.
Tinubu described his emergence as Nigeria’s President and Commander-in-Chief as an extraordinary favour from God, saying the position came with an obligation to serve the country and its people diligently.
“Out of many millions of people, to be the President and Commander-in-Chief is a favour that only Almighty God can do to a human being,” he said.
Beyond the spiritual significance of his visit, the President also used the opportunity to comment on the state of the Nigerian economy, expressing optimism about the country’s economic recovery.
He maintained that the foundation of the economy was solid and expressed confidence that the country was gradually moving away from its economic difficulties.
“The foundation is solid, and the economy has come out of the dark tunnel. This is inspiring,” he said.
The President, however, stressed that investing in young Nigerians remained a major responsibility of his administration, arguing that the country’s long-term development depended on creating opportunities for the younger generation.
According to him, leaders must prioritise the future of young people if they hope to leave a meaningful legacy for generations to come.
“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 said.
Tinubu also reaffirmed his commitment to what he described as Project Nigeria, promising to pursue policies aimed at promoting national prosperity, economic development and improved living conditions.
“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 stated.
Monday’s activities in Makkah marked the climax of the President’s four-day spiritual visit to Saudi Arabia.
Tinubu had completed the Umrah rites at the Grand Mosque, Masjid al-Haram, in the early hours of Friday, performing the traditional circumambulation of the Kaaba as part of the pilgrimage.
The President’s visit came at a politically significant period, with the country preparing for another general election.
Speaking with journalists shortly after completing the pilgrimage on Friday, Tinubu described the spiritual journey as significant and reiterated his belief in God’s ultimate authority over human affairs and political outcomes.
He also invoked divine authority when discussing the outcome of the forthcoming elections, saying the will of Allah would ultimately prevail.
“I believe that Allah’s wish in His court must prevail. And there’s no other God but Allah. Allah is the only one who can define a human being, what he will be, and what he will become,” he said.
The remarks came days after Tinubu officially flagged off his re-election campaign in Kaduna on October 24, underscoring the intersection of his spiritual reflections and political commitments as the country approaches the next electoral contest.
The President said his experience in the holy city had further strengthened his determination to serve Nigeria and pursue his administration’s development agenda.
