Like Buhari, Like Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu’s trip to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah, the lesser Hajj, comes at an auspicious political moment as his re-election campaign gathers momentum.

While the Presidency describes the pilgrimage as an opportunity to pray for Nigeria and seek divine guidance, the opposition has seized the occasion to question the President’s health and the actual purpose of his journey.

Such suspicions are not entirely surprising given Nigeria’s political history. The late President Muhammadu Buhari faced similar health-related speculation during his presidency.

However, images of him jogging while performing Umrah in 2019 provided a powerful visual response to his critics.

Tinubu’s pilgrimage has also been documented, but more visible footage of his participation, even while jogging, would help address public curiosity. In an atmosphere of political distrust, transparency builds public confidence.