Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar fully sponsored President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s first-ever pilgrimage to the holy land of Mecca in Saudi Arabia, according to claims made by Atiku’s Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu.
Shaibu disclosed this during a live broadcast on Channels Television’s Politics Today program, directly challenging the Presidency to contest or refute the assertion. He stated that the former Vice President footed the bill for Tinubu’s initial spiritual trip to Saudi Arabia out of personal generosity and a desire to encourage fellow political associates to deepen their relationship with God, noting that Atiku loves to bring people to know, love, and serve the Almighty.
Shaibu’s disclosures came amid sharp criticism of President Tinubu’s recent trip to Saudi Arabia for the lesser hajj (Umrah), accusing the Presidency of transforming a private spiritual devotion into a political spectacle.
The media aide argued that religious pilgrimages are fundamentally personal matters and criticized claims that the President’s trip was undertaken strictly on behalf of the nation, while also accusing Tinubu of hypocrisy for travelling primarily with northern governors to score regional political points. He contrasted Tinubu’s trip with Atiku’s personal history, noting that the former Vice President has visited the holy land over 30 times without grandstanding or publicizing his private worship.
The comments follow Atiku’s demand for the Presidency to provide clear transparency regarding the President’s official engagements while in Saudi Arabia, though the Presidency has yet to issue an official response regarding the sponsorship claims.
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