Presidency: Tinubu’s Saudi Arabia Trip Is for Umrah, Not Medical Treatment

The Presidency has dismissed speculation that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s planned visit to Saudi Arabia is for medical treatment, saying the trip is intended for the Islamic pilgrimage of Umrah and prayers for Nigeria and his re-election bid.

The clarification came from Dada Olusegun, Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, in a post on his verified X account. He was responding to a post by African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore, titled “Pray for Tinubu”, which portrayed the planned journey as a medical trip and drew comparisons with the circumstances surrounding the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.

Rejecting the suggestion, Olusegun said Tinubu was travelling to Makkah to perform Umrah, also known as the Lesser Hajj, and seek divine guidance for the country and his political ambitions.

“President Tinubu is not heading to Saudi Arabia for medical treatment. He is heading to the Holy Land for Lesser Hajj (Umrah), like other Muslims across the world, to offer supplications for the country and commit his re-election journey into the hands of God,” the presidential aide said.

Olusegun described the pilgrimage as a familiar religious practice among Muslims before major personal or public milestones. He recalled that Tinubu performed Umrah twice in 2022, first in April ahead of the All Progressives Congress presidential primary and again in late December before the 2023 presidential election.

According to the aide, Tinubu’s prayers were answered on both occasions, adding that the President intended to continue the practice ahead of another major political undertaking.

To counter concerns about the President’s health, Olusegun pointed to what he described as Tinubu’s recent public and official engagements. These included a visit to Kaduna on Saturday, which the aide characterised as the launch of the President’s re-election campaign, and meetings with former African Development Bank President Akinwumi Adesina and Nigerian Tourism Development Authority Director-General Ola Awakan.

He also cited Tinubu’s chairing of a Federal Executive Council meeting on Wednesday, during which, according to the aide, important decisions were taken.

“Mr Sowore, a ‘sick person’ would not have this many itineraries to accomplish,” Olusegun said, maintaining that the President was in good health. He added, “Mr President is fit as a fiddle.”

The presidential aide further accused Sowore of wishing Tinubu harm, insisting that no misfortune would befall the President.

The exchange has brought renewed attention to public discussion surrounding Tinubu’s health and travel plans. However, the supplied report contains the Presidency’s explanation of the planned trip and does not independently establish the President’s medical condition.