Tinubu says prayer for wisdom to keep serving Nigerians was answered at Ka'abah
- Tinubu spoke to journalists after praying inside the Holy Ka'abah in Makkah during an Umrah trip.
- He said he asked Allah for wisdom and resilience to keep serving Nigerians and believes it was granted.
- The President also said the economy has left its difficult period and promised more focus on young people.
President Bola Tinubu has said his prayers during an Umrah trip to Saudi Arabia included a request for wisdom and strength to keep serving Nigerians, and that he believes the request was answered.
He spoke to journalists after praying inside the Holy Ka'abah in Makkah, an access he described as a rare honour arranged by the Saudi authorities.
According to accounts carried by Daily Trust and Channels TV, the President said he also prayed before the 2023 election during an earlier Umrah and promised to return in thanks if he won.
What he said
Tinubu said his main prayer was that Nigeria's many faiths and groups would turn into prosperity for the country. "May Allah convert all the diversity to prosperity for the country," he said, according to Channels TV.
He thanked King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for allowing him and his delegation into the Ka'abah, and said he was struck that its covering carried Nigeria's green-white-green colours.
Reflecting on the Qur'an, the President said power belongs to God, who gives it to whom He wills and can take it away. He said he sees his position as a trust to be used well and with humility.
"My commitment to Project Nigeria is higher," he said, promising to push policies aimed at prosperity and development.
On the economy, Tinubu said the foundation is now solid and the country has come out of a difficult stretch. He gave no new figures or measures, and did not announce fresh policies in the remarks.
He said his government must invest in young Nigerians, arguing that decisions taken now will shape how this generation of leaders is judged decades from now.
He also urged Nigerians to put faith first and follow their conscience.
What happens next
The remarks were made to journalists and no new policy was announced. Nigerians will look to the government's next budget and economic decisions to test the President's claim that the economy has turned the corner, at a time when many households are still stretched by prices.
