The presidency has strongly dismissed claims that President Bola Tinubu’s upcoming trip to Saudi Arabia is for medical treatment, clarifying that the journey is strictly for the lesser Hajj (Umrah) and to offer prayers for the nation and his 2027 re-election bid.

The clarification was issued by Dada Olusegun, the Special Adviser to the President on Social Media, via his X handle in response to social media posts by human rights activist Omoyele Sowore.

Sowore had earlier claimed that the country was in "trouble" and alleged that Tinubu was being prepared for a foreign trip amid growing questions regarding his health.

Refuting the allegations, Olusegun stressed that undertaking Umrah ahead of critical political milestones is a consistent practice for the President.

He pointed out that Tinubu traveled to Makkah to perform Umrah twice in 2022—first in April before the APC primary election and again in late December before the general election.

Highlighting the President’s robust physical condition and demanding schedule, Olusegun noted that Tinubu recently flagged off his re-election campaign in Kaduna, hosted former African Development Bank (AfDB) President Akinwumi Adesina, met with the Director-General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA), Ola Awakan, and chaired a Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.

"Mr President is fit as a fiddle, and no evil, as you are wishing for, will befall the People’s President," Olusegun stated.

ID