Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President, has raised concerns about President Bola Tinubu’s announced Umrah pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia, demanding daily photos and videos showing the President in Makkah.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council, Atiku alleged that the official announcement of the pilgrimage might be a cover. He claimed that information available to him suggests France could be the President’s true destination.
According to Atiku, the President might make a brief appearance in Makkah before proceeding to France. He further questioned whether the trip was linked to President Tinubu’s health or a reported $20 billion loan request involving a French business partner, urging the Presidency to address these concerns and release the President’s full itinerary.
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To ensure transparency, the former Vice President called on the Presidency to publish clear, current, and date-stamped photographs and videos each day showing Tinubu at the Kaaba participating in Umrah rites. He emphasised that Nigerians deserve verifiable proof of the President’s whereabouts and a transparent accounting of his daily engagements.
While noting that he and other citizens would join the President in praying for the nation’s peace and progress, Atiku cautioned against using religious exercises as a cover. He stressed that a spiritual journey undertaken on behalf of the nation should be treated with utmost seriousness and integrity.
Reiterating that an official trip is a matter of public interest, Atiku maintained that citizens have a right to know the President’s daily schedule and how public funds are being used. He urged the Presidency to address these questions directly and provide the transparency Nigerians deserve.
Athekame Kenneth is a politics, economy, and finance reporter whose work is anchored in sharp investigative storytelling. He brings analytical depth to every piece, drawing on a strong academic foundation that includes a degree in Economics, an MBA in International Trade, and a minor in Petroleum Economics from Lagos State University, Ojo. His reporting blends rigorous research with a keen eye for hidden truths, delivering stories that illuminate power, policy, and the forces shaping everyday lives.
