Tinubu prays in Makkah for peaceful 2027 polls as Borno families plead for abducted pupils
- President Tinubu performed Umrah in Makkah with governors and prayed for peace and credible 2027 elections.
- He said only God decides who leads Nigeria, calling the pilgrimage spiritually significant for him and the country.
- Separately, Margi community parents in Borno asked Tinubu to secure the release of 78 pupils and a teacher held since May and June.
President Bola Tinubu performed the lesser pilgrimage, Umrah, at the Grand Mosque in Makkah on Friday, leading a delegation that included several governors and senior officials, and said he prayed for peace, unity and credible elections ahead of the January 2027 general elections.
Speaking to journalists after the rites, the President said the exercise was deeply personal. "I feel good. I feel fulfilled. It's a spiritual thing for me and the country, Nigeria," he said, according to Punch.
Asked about visiting Makkah before the 2023 election, Tinubu said the coincidence was significant, adding that only God can determine who leads Nigeria. "Allah is the only one who can define a human being, what he will be, and what he will become," he said.
His Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said in a statement that the President prayed for sustainable peace, national unity and stability, and restated his commitment to a nation where every Nigerian can live in safety and dignity, whatever their faith.
Governors and allies speak
Borno Governor Babagana Zulum said the delegation prayed above all for peace to return to the country. Kaduna Governor Uba Sani said they also prayed for divine help against insecurity, noting that governors and security agencies are working but need public cooperation.
Adamawa Governor Ahmadu Fintiri said the group prayed for a successful election and asked God to choose what is best for Nigerians. Sokoto Governor Ahmad Aliyu called the large turnout a show of solidarity with the President.
BUA Group chairman Abdulsamad Rabiu, who was on the trip, said the delegation prayed for free, fair and successful elections. Tunde Rahman, the President's adviser on media, said Tinubu has made such visits regularly since about 2016.
The pilgrimage came days after Tinubu flagged off his re-election campaign in Kaduna, according to Punch.
Borno families still waiting
In Abuja, parents from the Margi community in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State renewed their appeal to the President to bring home 78 schoolchildren and a teacher abducted this year.
Community chairman Malla Gadzama said 42 children were taken from Mussa on May 15, while 36 children and a teacher were seized from Lassa on June 29, during NECO examinations. The victims have now spent months in captivity.
Fellow community member Frank Kudla said the abductors have spoken to the government but not to the families, leaving parents without direct information. He said the Borno State Government assured them the children would return, but that has not happened.
The community said it has written to the National Security Adviser without a response and has not secured meetings with Senate President or other National Assembly leaders. It is considering a procession to the National Assembly.
It asked for coordinated rescue efforts, a channel for verified information to families, and counselling, medical care and schooling for the children when they return.
What happens next: The community has asked federal and state authorities to coordinate rescue efforts and keep families informed. Campaigning for the 2027 elections continues.
