Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has questioned the need for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to travel to Saudi Arabia to pray for Nigeria, arguing that prayers for the country’s peace and progress can also be offered within Nigeria.
Makinde, who is the presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), made the remarks in response to the explanation that Tinubu’s planned trip to Makkah was intended to allow the President to perform Umrah and pray for the country.
“I read on social media that our President is travelling to Saudi Arabia to pray for Nigeria. Prayers are answered even in this country. We will stay here and pray for our country and leaders,” Makinde said.
His comments introduced another political dimension to the discussion surrounding the President’s planned religious pilgrimage.
The Presidency has said Tinubu would travel to Makkah to perform Umrah and pray for Nigeria’s peace, unity, stability and progress.
Umrah is a pilgrimage to the Islamic holy city of Makkah that can be performed at different times of the year, unlike Hajj, which takes place during a specific period of the Islamic calendar.
Makinde’s remarks suggest that the President’s religious intentions should not require a trip abroad, particularly when Nigerians can also pray for their country from within its borders.
The comment comes as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections, with opposition figures increasingly scrutinising the President’s decisions and public engagements.
The debate over Tinubu’s trip has also drawn attention to wider questions about leadership, public accountability and the challenges facing the country.
Nigeria continues to confront economic pressures and security concerns, issues that are likely to feature prominently in the political campaigns leading up to the next election.
While the Presidency has presented the journey as a religious pilgrimage, critics have used the occasion to question the priorities of the President and the symbolism of travelling abroad to pray for the country.
Makinde’s statement adds to the political exchanges surrounding Tinubu’s re-election bid and the approaches different political leaders believe are necessary to address Nigeria’s challenges.