A combo of Tinubu and Atiku Photo: Inshot
By Abdullahi Abubakar
The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the 2027 general elections, Atiku Abubakar, has said that President Bola Tinubu may be be travelling to France through Mekkah, Saudi Arabia.
Atiku challenged Tinubu to release daily, date-stamped photographs and videos of himself performing Umrah in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, claiming that France may be his actual destination.
He alleged that Tinubu’s announced pilgrimage could be a “smokescreen or subterfuge,” claiming that credible intelligence available to him suggested the President might travel to France after making a brief appearance in Makkah.
The former vice-president made the allegations in a statement issued on Wednesday by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council.
Tinubu is scheduled to depart Abuja on Thursday for Makkah to perform Umrah, an Islamic pilgrimage, and pray for Nigeria’s peace, unity, stability and progress.
According to the Presidency, the President is expected to return to Nigeria next week after completing the religious exercise.
Reacting to the announcement, Atiku questioned whether the trip was connected to Tinubu’s health and a reported $20 billion loan request involving a French business partner.
He called on the Presidency to address the concerns and disclose the President’s full itinerary.
Atiku said the Presidency should provide verifiable evidence of Tinubu’s presence in Makkah if his stated purpose for travelling to Saudi Arabia were to pray for Nigeria.
“If President Tinubu is truly travelling to pray for Nigeria, the Presidency should release clear, current, date-stamped photographs and videos each day showing him at the Kaaba and participating in the rites of Umrah,” the statement said.
The former vice-president added that Nigerians deserved proof of the President’s presence in the holy city and a transparent account of his daily activities during the trip.
Atiku also said he and other Nigerians would join Tinubu in offering prayers for the country’s peace and progress.
However, he cautioned against invoking the name of Allah without sincerity, insisting that a spiritual mission undertaken on behalf of the nation should be treated with seriousness and transparency.
The ADC campaign council’s statement further argued that an official trip presented as a mission for Nigeria was a matter of public interest.
It said Nigerians were entitled to know the President’s daily engagements and how the trip was being funded.
