President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said he prayed for wisdom and resilience to continue serving Nigerians during his recent spiritual visit to Saudi Arabia, reaffirming his commitment to national development and the pursuit of a prosperous Nigeria.
The President made this known after performing Umrah, the lesser Hajj, and gaining the rare opportunity to enter the Holy Ka’abah in Makkah alongside members of his delegation.
Tinubu expressed gratitude to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for granting him and his delegation the privilege.
He described the experience as a historic and deeply cherished spiritual moment, reflecting the longstanding relationship between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia.
During his visit to the Holy Ka’abah, Tinubu also held and kissed the Al-Hajar al-Aswad, commonly known as the Black Stone, in accordance with Islamic tradition.
The President said he offered prayers of gratitude to Almighty Allah for the opportunity to serve as Nigeria’s President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
According to him, he sought divine wisdom and resilience to continue discharging his responsibilities, expressing confidence that his prayers had been answered.
“I asked for wisdom and resilience to continue to serve the people. I know that prayer has been granted,” Tinubu said, recalling that he had also prayed during his 2023 pre-election Umrah and promised to return in gratitude.
Reflecting on the message of Surah Aal-Imran, Verse 26 of the Holy Qur’an, the President said power and authority ultimately belong to Almighty Allah, who grants leadership and can take it away.
He emphasised that political authority should be treated as a trust and exercised with humility, responsibility and dedication to the people.
Tinubu also expressed optimism about Nigeria’s economic direction, describing the country’s economic foundation as solid and saying the economy had emerged from a difficult period.
“The foundation is solid, and the economy has come out of the dark tunnel. This is inspiring,” he said.
He further stressed the need to invest in the future of young Nigerians, noting that present leadership decisions would determine how future generations judge those in positions of authority.
The President reiterated his commitment to national development, youth empowerment, economic prosperity and the advancement of what he described as Project Nigeria.
Earlier, in a statement on his official X account, Tinubu said he had prayed for peace, unity and prosperity in Nigeria during his stay in Saudi Arabia.
The delegation included Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi, Minister of Health and Social Welfare Prof. Ali Pate, and the governors of Borno, Sokoto, Jigawa, Kaduna, Yobe and Kwara states, among other dignitaries.
Opposition Campaign Faults Tinubu’s Economic Assessment
However, the President’s assessment of the economy attracted criticism from the Makinde-Daura Presidential Campaign Organisation, which accused him of presenting an inaccurate picture of Nigeria’s economic situation.
In a statement, the campaign organisation’s Director of Strategic Communication, Richard Ihediuwa, questioned Tinubu’s claim that the economy had emerged from a difficult period, arguing that Nigerians continued to face rising living costs, unemployment, food insecurity and insecurity.
The organisation also alleged that businesses were closing because of the impact of government policies and taxation, while describing fuel prices and the country’s infrastructure deficit as major challenges.
It further raised concerns over Nigeria’s debt profile and questioned the administration’s borrowing and investment strategies.
The campaign organisation urged the President to address the economic difficulties confronting citizens and provide clearer evidence of the progress claimed by his administration.
South-East Groups Endorse Tinubu for 2027
Meanwhile, the South-East chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), alongside Hausa and Yoruba community leaders in Ebonyi State, has reportedly endorsed Tinubu for re-election in the 2027 general elections.
The endorsement was announced during a town hall meeting in Abakaliki organised by the Directorate of Infrastructure, Mobilisation and Sensitisation of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council.
Speaking at the gathering, the President of the Christian Fellowship of Nigeria in the South-East, Rev. Fr. Abraham Nwali, commended the President over infrastructure development in the region and urged residents to support his re-election bid.
Other representatives of Christian groups, including Mrs Uche Charity Ujunwa and Peter Onyeabor, also expressed support for the President.
Similarly, the leaders of the Yoruba and Hausa communities in Ebonyi State, Kazeem Bankole and Alhaji Danjuma Gambo, respectively, pledged to mobilise members of their communities in support of Tinubu and other APC candidates in the 2027 elections.
The developments come as political activities and public debate over the performance of the Tinubu administration continue ahead of the 2027 general elections.