The Special Assistant to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Social Media and Director of Digital Media of the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), Dada Olusegun, has dismissed claims that the President’s planned trip to Saudi Arabia is for medical treatment, responding to activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Olusegun explained that the President’s visit to Makkah was a religious exercise and an opportunity to seek divine guidance for the country and commit his political journey ahead of the 2027 presidential election to God.
He described the trip as a familiar practice among Muslims, noting that PBAT had traveled to Saudi Arabia twice in 2022 to perform Umrah, first in April ahead of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary and again in December before the presidential election.
According to him, the President’s decision to undertake the pilgrimage again reflects his personal religious practices and desire to pray for the nation.
“This is not new. It is a regular practice among Muslims when they want to embark on any critical journey or attain a milestone,” Olusegun said.
He also recalled that PBAT had traveled to Makkah in April and December 2022, ahead of the APC primary and the presidential election, respectively.
Defending the President’s recent schedule, Olusegun listed several official engagements, including PBAT’s attendance at the APC presidential campaign flag-off in Kaduna on Saturday, his meeting with former African Development Bank President Akinwumi Adesina, and his separate audience with the Director-General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority, Ola Awakan.
He further noted that the President chaired the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, where key government decisions were made.
Olusegun cited these engagements while rejecting claims that the Saudi trip was prompted by a medical condition.
“Mr President is fit as a fiddle,” he stated, adding that the visit was for spiritual purposes.
The presidential aide also criticized former presidential candidate and activist Omoyele Sowore over comments concerning the President’s trip, insisting that the journey should be understood within the context of the President’s religious beliefs.
PBAT is scheduled to travel to Makkah, Saudi Arabia, to perform Umrah, a pilgrimage that Muslims undertake outside the annual Hajj period.
The planned visit comes as political activities ahead of the 2027 general election gather momentum, following the APC’s presidential campaign flag-off in Kaduna.