The Presidency has dismissed speculation about President Bola Tinubu’s health, insisting that his planned trip to Saudi Arabia is for religious purposes and not medical treatment.
The clarification followed claims by activist Omoyele Sowore, who suggested that the President’s journey was connected to concerns about his health. The controversy has once again drawn public attention to Tinubu’s condition and the purpose of his frequent foreign trips.
Dada Olusegun, the President’s Special Adviser on Social Media, addressed the allegations in a post on X, explaining that Tinubu would travel to Makkah to perform Umrah, a lesser pilgrimage undertaken by Muslims.
According to Olusegun, the President intends to pray for Nigeria’s peace, unity and development, while also seeking divine guidance for his administration and his 2027 re-election ambition.
He recalled that Tinubu undertook similar spiritual journeys twice in 2022, ahead of the APC presidential primary and the general election. Olusegun argued that the President’s busy schedule contradicts claims about his health, describing him as “fit as a fiddle.”
In a separate announcement, presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga confirmed that Tinubu would leave Abuja on Thursday. Before departing, the President is expected to commission equipment for the Nigerian Air Force at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport. He is expected back in Nigeria next week.
The latest controversy comes about a month after Tinubu completed a four-week vacation in Europe. During that period, the President dismissed concerns about his health, maintaining that he was well and prepared to continue his official duties.
However, the planned Saudi Arabian trip has continued to attract political reactions. Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has reportedly called for daily photographs and videos of Tinubu in Makkah, questioning whether the announced destination accurately reflects the President’s movements. He also raised allegations linking the trip to France and a proposed $20 billion loan deal.
The Presidency has maintained that the journey is for religious observance, but the competing claims have kept Tinubu’s health and travel plans in the public spotlight.
