Rabiu, Uba Sani, Yari, and Others Share Thoughts After Umrah with Tinubu

BUA chairman, Abdulsamad Rabiu, and others who joined President Bola Tinubu on Umrah in Saudi Arabia have made special prayers for the country. They focused on lasting peace, unity, and the smooth conduct of the 2027 general elections.

Mr Rabiu expressed appreciation for being part of this visit to the Holy Land. He highlighted the spiritual importance of the trip at a crucial time in Nigeria’s political scene.

"Alhamdulillah, it’s very significant, and we are blessed and honoured, you know, to accompany His Excellency, Mr President, you know, to the Holy Land. We are here to pray for Nigeria, for peace, long-lasting peace for the country, for unity in Nigeria, and as we know, we are preparing for the elections, which will happen soon.

"So again, we have prayed and will continue to pray for free, fair, and successful elections in the country. We pray that Allah accepts all our prayers, you know, and worship here, and we hope and pray that peace and unity will prevail in our country," Mr Rabiu stated.

Prayers for Security

Also sharing his thoughts, Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State said this visit was a chance to pray about insecurity in Kaduna and other states.

"The number one priority for us is to pray for our country, pray for our states, and pray for our people. Of course, we have some challenges, as you are aware, which we believe require prayers.

"On the issue of insecurity in our country, particularly in some states, governors are trying, and security agencies are trying. Even our citizens are making efforts to address these challenges.

"However, some of us firmly believe that we must pray to Almighty Allah to intervene. Most of these issues persist not because security agencies, governors, or the President are not trying.

"There are individuals within society who need to work more closely with the relevant security agencies to tackle these problems.

"We must pray for Almighty Allah to touch their hearts and change their ways. Reports from security agencies indicate that there is connivance, not necessarily from politicians, but even among ordinary members of the public who fail to give the necessary cooperation.

"We must pray for everyone to embrace patriotism and be our brothers’ keepers. That is the only way we can effectively overcome these challenges.

"So, while we believe deeply in prayer, we also recognize the need to do our part. As leaders, we took an oath to protect the lives and properties of our citizens. At the same time, we must continually seek Almighty Allah’s guidance and ease to help us protect our people, our states, and our nation," Governor Sani stated.

Seeking Peace

Also speaking, the Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum, highlighted that the main goal of the trip was to pray for peace in Nigeria.

"We pray that Almighty Allah shall give us lasting peace and tranquillity in Nigeria. As we are getting closer to the election, we pray that everything will go well, and God will give us a better future, so that everyone in Nigeria will enjoy it.

"We believe there is nothing better than peace. We believe there is nothing better than unity in our country, and therefore we should do everything possible to ensure a peaceful election, Inshallah," Mr Zulum said.

A media aide to the president, Tunde Rahman, mentioned that regular spiritual renewal has always been a key part of Mr Tinubu’s life and leadership.

Mr Rahman said President Tinubu has consistently made it a point to seek divine help each year.

He recalled that since he began working with the Nigerian leader nearly ten years ago, Mr Tinubu has always set aside time to pray for Nigeria and its people.

"Mr President has always been somebody who believes in regular spiritual rejuvenation. It has always been part of his life. I recall over the years, from about 2016, that I joined him. There’s never been a year that we didn’t come to seek the face of our Almighty Allah.

"This is a regular part of his life, and on occasions like this, he has always used the opportunity to pray for himself and the country. I think this is a very critical moment where we need a lot of prayers," Mr Rahman stated.

Leadership and Prayer

Former Zamfara State Governor and Director General of the APC presidential campaign council, Abdul’aziz Yari, described Mr Tinubu’s leadership as based on prayer and commitment to serving the public.

Mr Yari noted that the president prioritizes the welfare of Nigerians through continuous prayer.

"That is what makes a leader because when you ask him, he first prays for the country and every Nigerian. He believes this election is one that God has chosen the right leader for. Only God can put a leader in place. By God’s grace, we should welcome and work. That’s all the procedure we have been under: the protocol to campaign, to talk to people, to convince them, to show them what we have done, and by God’s grace, people will be convinced to elect us," Mr Yari stated.

President Tinubu’s spiritual trip in Saudi Arabia comes after a series of high-level political and international activities.

Before this spiritual journey, President Tinubu returned from a month-long trip to Europe.

Upon his return, the President officially launched the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign in Kaduna State. Thousands of party leaders, governors, and supporters gathered to back his re-election bid for the upcoming elections.

At the Kaduna rally, Mr Tinubu renewed his promise to improve the economy, fight poverty, and enhance infrastructure across the country.

After launching the nationwide campaign in Kaduna, President Tinubu left the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Thursday afternoon for Saudi Arabia.

According to the Presidency, the visit was strictly a personal spiritual journey aimed at performing Umrah and seeking divine guidance, unity, and lasting peace and progress for the nation.