President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s planned trip to Saudi Arabia on Thursday, 29 October 2026, is intended for the performance of the lesser Hajj, known as Umrah, rather than medical treatment, according to Dada Olusegun, the President’s Special Adviser on Social Media.
Olusegun made the clarification in a post on X on Thursday in response to concerns raised by human rights activist Omoyele Sowore over the President’s planned foreign trip and questions about his health.
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The presidential aide said Tinubu intended to use the visit to pray for Nigeria and seek divine guidance for his bid for re-election in 2027.
“President Tinubu is not heading to Saudi Arabia for medical treatment. He is heading to the Holy Land for the Lesser Hajj (Umrah), like other Muslims across the world, to offer supplications for the country and commit his re-election journey into the hands of God,” Olusegun stated.
The clarification followed a post by Sowore on Wednesday, in which the activist expressed concern about the country’s political situation and questioned the timing of the President’s proposed journey.
Sowore alleged that Tinubu was being prepared for another foreign trip amid growing questions about his health.
He also claimed that five governors, some ministers and prominent business figures were expected to accompany the President, suggesting that their presence could make the journey appear to be an official business visit.
However, the claims about the purpose of the trip and the expected delegation were not independently established in the information available.
Defending the President’s decision to undertake the pilgrimage, Olusegun said Tinubu had performed Umrah twice in 2022, before significant milestones in his political career.
According to the aide, the President travelled to Makkah in April 2022, ahead of the All Progressives Congress presidential primary, and returned in December of the same year, before the 2023 presidential election.
Olusegun described the pilgrimage as a familiar religious practice among Muslims seeking prayers and spiritual guidance before important undertakings.
He said Tinubu was following a similar approach ahead of the 2027 election.
The presidential aide also cited the President’s recent official engagements to counter suggestions that health concerns were affecting his capacity to discharge his duties.
He noted that Tinubu had attended a campaign-related event in Kaduna on Saturday, received former African Development Bank president Akinwumi Adesina and separately hosted Nigerian Tourism Development Authority Director-General Ola Awakan before chairing a Federal Executive Council meeting on Wednesday.
Olusegun used the engagements to argue that the President remained capable of carrying out his responsibilities.
“Mr President is fit as a fiddle,” the aide declared, while rejecting suggestions that the trip was connected to medical treatment.
The exchange highlights the continuing public interest in the President’s health and official travel, particularly as political activities gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general election.
While the presidency’s explanation establishes the stated religious purpose of the planned journey, neither the aide’s comments nor Sowore’s allegations independently provide medical evidence about Tinubu’s health.
The distinction is important as political figures and public commentators debate the significance of presidential travel.
Tinubu’s administration has presented the trip as a religious undertaking, while Sowore has questioned its timing and circumstances.
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Further official information about the delegation, itinerary and outcome of the visit would help clarify the details surrounding the President’s journey.
Mariam Balogun is a contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, business, and public affairs.
