Tinubu ends Saudi Umrah trip, says he prayed for Nigeria's peace and unity
- President Bola Tinubu has concluded his visit to Saudi Arabia, where he performed Umrah in Makkah.
- He said he prayed for peace, unity and prosperity for Nigeria and all Nigerians.
- Governors and officials who travelled with him joined nightly dinners focused on prayers for the country.
President Bola Tinubu has ended his visit to Saudi Arabia, where he performed the lesser pilgrimage, Umrah, in Makkah and said he used the moment to pray for Nigeria.
In a statement on Monday, the President said he prayed for peace, unity and prosperity for the country and for all Nigerians.
"In those sacred moments, I prayed for peace, unity and prosperity for our dear nation and for all Nigerians," he said, according to his post on X.
Tinubu arrived in Makkah on the night of Thursday, October 30, and completed the Umrah at the Grand Mosque, Masjid al-Haram, in the early hours of Friday, according to Punch.
Thanks to Saudi leaders
The President thanked the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman for allowing him and his delegation to enter the Holy Kaaba to pray.
He described the gesture as a sign of the enduring bonds of faith and friendship between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia.
Governors, ministers and business leaders travelled with him. At a dinner on Sunday, BUA Group Chairman Abdulsamad Rabiu said the group had held nightly discussions since arriving, centred on prayers for Nigeria's peace, unity and prosperity.
Kwara State Governor and Nigeria Governors Forum chairman AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq said the governors were "overwhelmed" and prayed that God would strengthen the President in making the right decisions.
Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi also prayed for the President, noting that even highly placed people have private wishes known only to God.
Speaking to journalists on Friday, Tinubu said the trip was deeply meaningful to him, having also visited Makkah before the 2023 election that brought him to power.
What happens next
The visit came a week after the President flagged off his re-election campaign in Kaduna on October 24, ahead of the January 16, 2027 general elections.
He had presided over a Federal Executive Council meeting last Wednesday before leaving for Saudi Arabia.
