Tinubu seeks divine intervention in Nigeria

President Bola Tinubu on Friday led a delegation of governors and senior government officials to seek divine intervention in Nigeria, praying for lasting peace, national unity and peaceful elections ahead of the January 2027 general elections.

Tinubu made the appeal in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, on Friday after performing the lesser pilgrimage, Umrah, at the Grand Mosque, Masjid al-Haram, describing the spiritual exercise as significant for him and the country.

He also said only God could determine who would lead Nigeria, insisting that the outcome of the forthcoming elections was ultimately in the hands of Allah.

“I feel good. I feel fulfilled. It’s a spiritual thing for me and the country, Nigeria. I’m grateful to Allah for this opportunity,” he told journalists after completing the pilgrimage in the early hours of Friday.

When reminded that he had also visited Makkah before the 2023 presidential election, the President described the coincidence as deeply meaningful.

“It is very, very significant. I believe the love of the people, the commitment to the job, and the physical commitment to it. I believe that Allah’s wish in His court must prevail, and there’s no other God but Allah. Allah is the only one who can define a human being, what he will be, and what he will become,” he said.

The President called on Nigerians to pray for the country, saying, “We just prayed for our nation. We prayed for everyone to live in harmony, happiness, and faith in God Almighty.”

In a statement issued after the spiritual exercise, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said Tinubu circled the Holy Ka’abah in worship, devotion and thanksgiving, praying for sustainable peace, national unity, harmony and stability.

“I am grateful to Allah for being able to perform this Umrah. We have just prayed for our nation, for everyone to live in peace and harmony, happiness and faith in God Almighty,” the President was quoted as saying in the statement.

Onanuga said the President reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to building a peaceful, united and prosperous nation where every Nigerian, regardless of faith or background, could live in safety, dignity and harmony.

Chairman of BUA Group, Alhaji Abdulsamad Rabiu, who accompanied the delegation, described the pilgrimage as an opportunity to seek divine intervention for Nigeria, particularly as the country prepares for another general election.

Rabiu said, “Alhamdulillah, it’s very significant, and we are blessed and honoured to accompany His Excellency, Mr President, to the Holy Land.

“We are here in this sacred place to pray for Nigeria, to pray for peace, long-lasting peace for the country, for unity in Nigeria, and as we know, we are preparing for the elections.

“So, we have prayed and will continue to pray for free, fair, and successful elections in the country.”

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Special Duties, Tunde Rahman, said Tinubu’s regular visits to seek divine guidance were consistent with a pattern stretching back years.

“Mr President has always been somebody who believes in regular spiritual rejuvenation. It has always been part of his life.

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“I recall, from about 2016, there’s never been a year that we didn’t come to seek the face of our Almighty Allah. On occasions like this, he has always used the opportunity to pray for himself, to pray for the country, and I think this is a very critical moment where we need a lot of prayers.

“We all prayed for the election to be very successful, free, fair, and credible,” Rahman said.

Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State said the delegation prayed above all for a return of peace to the country.

Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State said the lesser pilgrimage was part of a broader act of collective prayer for the country and the electoral process.

He said, “The lesser Hajj is part of the religious rites, and we have joined Mr President to come and pray for the country, and pray for the success of our election, and at the same time to ask God to choose what is best for Nigerians.”

Governor Ahmad Aliyu of Sokoto State said the large delegation was a sign of solidarity behind the President.

“I have been very fulfilled to be among the leaders of our nation. As you can observe, we are here in a large number to support our leader, to pray for our country, to pray for the victory and the success of our election, and the peace and stability and progress of our nation,” he said.

Former Zamfara State governor and Director General of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council, Abdul’aziz Yari, said Tinubu’s response when asked about the election reflected his belief that leadership was ultimately determined by God.

“That is what makes a leader, because when you ask him, he first prays for the country, prays for every Nigerian, and he also said this election is in God’s hands, God has selected the person who will be leader, and only He can make that determination.

“He deferred to Almighty Allah to do it for him as He did it in 2023. But we also have to campaign, to talk to people, to convince them, to show them what we have done and what we have achieved, and by God’s grace, people will be convinced to elect us.”

Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State said the delegation also prayed specifically for divine intervention in tackling insecurity.

“Our number one priority is to pray for our country, pray for our states, and pray for our people.

“We have challenges, the issue of insecurity in our country, particularly in some states. Governors are trying, security agencies are trying, and our people are trying.

“But we believe we certainly have to pray to Almighty Allah to intervene,” he said, adding that some members of the public were withholding cooperation from security agencies, compounding the problem.

Tinubu’s visit to Makkah comes days after he officially flagged off his re-election campaign in Kaduna on October 24 as he seeks a second term in office in the January 2027 elections.