Dada Olusegun, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Social Media, has dismissed speculation that the President’s planned visit to Saudi Arabia is for medical reasons, saying the trip is intended for the performance of the lesser Hajj, known as Umrah.
Olusegun said Tinubu would also use the religious exercise to pray for Nigeria and seek God’s guidance ahead of his bid for re-election in 2027.
The presidential aide made the clarification on Thursday through his X account while responding to comments by human rights activist Omoyele Sowore, who had raised concerns about the President’s health and planned foreign travel.
In a post on Wednesday, Sowore described Nigeria’s situation as troubling and questioned the circumstances surrounding Tinubu’s expected departure for Saudi Arabia on Thursday, October 29, 2026.
He wrote, “Nigeria is in serious trouble! After the Kaduna rally, there are now indications that Bola Ahmed Tinubu #officialabat is being prepared for another foreign trip tomorrow, October 29, 2026, amid growing questions about his health.
Hearing that five governors, some ministers, and prominent businessmen are being assembled for the trip, apparently to give it the appearance of an official business visit.
“Like Yar’Adua, like Tinubu?” he tweeted.
Responding, Olusegun insisted that the President was travelling to the Holy Land for religious purposes rather than medical care.
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.
READ ALSO: Tinubu Heads To Makkah For Umrah Thursday
He argued that the President’s planned pilgrimage was consistent with his previous religious visits to Saudi Arabia before major political events.
“This is not new… it is a regular practice among Muslims when they want to embark on any critical journey or attain a milestone. Mr Sowore, in case you have temporary amnesia, Bola Ahmed Tinubu travelled to Makkah, Saudi Arabia, to perform Umrah (Lesser Hajj) twice in 2022… first in April 2022, before the APC primary election, and again in late December 2022, before the presidential election.
“His prayers were answered on both occasions. It is only sensible to stick to a potent strategy; hence the President is going again. On Saturday, the President was in Kaduna to flag off his re-election campaign.
“Yesterday, he received the former AfDB President, Akinwumi Adesina, in an audience and separately hosted the Director-General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA), Ola Awakan. Today, the President chaired the FEC meeting, where some consequential decisions were made.
“Mr Sowore, a ‘sick person’ would not have this many itineraries to accomplish. Mr President is fit as a fiddle, and no evil, as you are wishing for, will befall the People’s President,” Olusegun stated.
The presidential aide cited Tinubu’s recent engagements, including his Kaduna visit to launch his re-election campaign, meetings with former African Development Bank President Akinwumi Adesina and NTDA Director-General Ola Awakan, and his chairing of the Federal Executive Council meeting on Thursday, as evidence of the President’s continued official activities.