2027: Tinubu’s Umrah trip not for Northern votes — Aide

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Protocol, Ademola Oshodi, has debunked claims that President Bola Tinubu's Umrah pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia was primarily aimed at garnering support from Northern Nigeria ahead of the 2027 presidential election. According to Oshodi, the President's journey should be viewed from a religious and national standpoint rather than as a political maneuver to sway voters in a specific region.

He emphasized that the significance of Tinubu's access to the Holy Kaaba, Islam's most revered structure, transcends regional politics, as Muslims across the country appreciated the rare opportunity. Oshodi stated, "You know public opinion is far from being monolithic. One section of the population cannot come and say, 'This is for votes from the North.'

I believe we should look at it from a different aspect. This is a huge significance for Nigeria. This is the first South-West leader to have been given that honor. How do the South-West Nigerians see that?" He further noted that Tinubu's previous Umrah experiences and Hajj pilgrimages underscored his deep faith, and he believed the President was granted the privilege due to his leadership of the largest Muslim country in Africa.

Oshodi urged against overemphasizing the timing of the pilgrimage, suggesting that political parties should instead focus on seeking divine guidance for their re-election campaigns.