President Bola Tinubu has renewed his commitment to national development, pledging to build a prosperous Nigeria and invest in the future of young people after performing Umrah in Saudi Arabia.
The President made the pledge on Monday while reflecting on his spiritual experience in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where he was granted access to pray inside the Holy Ka’abah in Makkah.
Tinubu thanked Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for granting him and members of his Nigerian delegation the rare opportunity to enter the sacred site.
He described the experience as a historic and deeply cherished spiritual moment, reflecting the longstanding friendship and cooperation between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia.
Sheikh Dahlulah Muthawal of Masjid al-Haram led the President into the Ka’abah, where he offered prayers of gratitude to Almighty Allah for the opportunity to serve as Nigeria’s President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
Speaking about the experience, Tinubu expressed appreciation to the Saudi leadership for the recognition and hospitality extended to him and his delegation.
“I want to say a big thank you for the faith, for the recognition. I can’t believe the fencing of the Ka’abah is in Green-White-Green, which reminds us of the Nigerian identity,” he said.
He also thanked the Crown Prince and administrators of the holy land for the privilege, describing the opportunity to pray inside the Ka’abah as a moment that would remain part of history.
“It is an honour that I enjoyed, and it is gracious of them to have allowed me to enter inside the Ka’abah. This is history,” the President said.
Tinubu disclosed that he prayed for wisdom and resilience to continue serving Nigerians, expressing confidence that his request had been granted.
“Well, I asked for wisdom and resilience to continue to serve the people. I know that prayer has been granted. Before the 2023 election, I did the same thing. I asked Allah to bless my Umrah then, and He did. And I promised that I would come back to thank Him,” he said.
Reflecting on Surah Aal-Imran, Verse 26 of the Holy Qur’an, which speaks about Almighty Allah’s ultimate ownership of power and sovereignty, the President said political authority was a trust that must be exercised responsibly.
He noted that positions of power were temporary and that leaders must remain conscious of their responsibility to serve the people, recognising Allah as the ultimate giver and taker of authority.
“There is no other God but Almighty Allah. He is the giver and the taker. He owns power and authority. He says, ‘If I give you, use it well. If you don’t use it in accordance with my dictates, I can take it from you and give it to another person. I am the only One who has that authority,” Tinubu said.
The President also described his emergence as Nigeria’s leader as a special blessing from Almighty Allah, which he said must be justified through dedicated service to the country.
“I have faith in that, and I believe extremely well that He has done me and my country a great favour. Out of many millions of people, to be the President and Commander-in-Chief is a favour that only Almighty God can do to a human being,” he stated.
Reaffirming his administration’s development agenda, Tinubu declared that his commitment to building Nigeria had grown stronger, promising to pursue prosperity in line with the aspirations of Nigerians.
“My commitment to Project Nigeria is higher. I am determined to usher in prosperity and fully develop the country, consistent with the wish of Allah and the support of the people,” he said.
He urged Nigerians to put Allah first, follow their conscience and remain committed to the right path towards national greatness.
On the economy, the President expressed optimism about the country’s progress, describing its economic foundation as solid and the movement away from a difficult period as encouraging.
“The foundation is solid, and the economy has come out of the dark tunnel. This is inspiring,” he said.
Tinubu also stressed the need for sustained investment in young Nigerians, warning that the decisions taken by present leaders would shape how future generations judge their leadership.
“We need to build a future for our youth. If we don’t invest in their future, how do we want to be remembered as leaders 50 years from now? That’s the main thing. So this is a rare privilege to lead the country,” he added.
The President pledged that his administration would remain focused on strengthening the economy, expanding opportunities for young people and creating an environment where Nigerians could realise their potential.
Members of the Nigerian delegation, including Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN); Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate; and governors of Borno, Sokoto, Jigawa, Kaduna, Yobe and Kwara states, also expressed gratitude for the opportunity to enter the Ka’abah and pray.
Captains of industry, including Chairman of BUA Group, Abdulsamad Rabiu, and Oando Chief Executive Officer, Wale Tinubu, were also among those who joined the President in expressing appreciation to Almighty Allah for the spiritual experience.
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