Tinubu Not Going To Saudi Arabia For Medical Treatment – Presidential Aide

President Bola Tinubu is not travelling to Saudi Arabia for medical treatment but to perform the lesser Hajj, known as Umrah, and pray for Nigeria, according to his Special Assistant on New Media, Olusegun Dada.

Dada, in a post on his X handle, said the President’s planned trip to Makkah was intended to offer supplications for the country and commit his re-election bid into the hands of God.

He dismissed suggestions that the trip was health-related, describing the pilgrimage as a regular practice among Muslims before embarking on critical journeys or seeking divine intervention at important milestones.

“This is not new… it is a regular practice among Muslims when they want to embark on any critical journey or attain a milestone,” he said.

Dada also recalled that Tinubu travelled to Makkah twice in 2022 to perform Umrah, first in April, ahead of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary, and again in late December, before the 2023 presidential election.

According to the presidential aide, the President’s decision to return to the holy city follows the same practice of seeking divine guidance ahead of another major political journey.

“It is only sensible to stick to a potent strategy, hence the President is going again,” Dada said.

Defending Tinubu’s fitness for office, Dada pointed to the President’s recent engagements, including his appearance in Kaduna on Saturday to flag off his re-election campaign.

He also noted that Tinubu received former African Development Bank President, Akinwumi Adesina, and separately hosted the Director-General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority, Ola Awakan, on Wednesday.

Dada further cited the President’s role in chairing the Federal Executive Council meeting on Thursday, during which the government took what he described as consequential decisions.

He argued that the President’s busy schedule contradicted suggestions that he was unwell.

“Mr Sowore, a ‘sick person’ would not have this many itineraries to accomplish,” he said, in an apparent response to activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore.

Reaffirming his position, Dada declared that Tinubu was in good health and dismissed concerns about the President’s condition.

“Mr President is fit as a fiddle, and no evil, as you are wishing for, will befall the People’s President,” he added.

Tinubu is scheduled to travel to Makkah, Saudi Arabia, to perform Umrah, an Islamic pilgrimage involving prayers and religious devotion at the holy city.