The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) Ulama team has urged Nigerian pilgrims performing the Hajj to refrain from cursing President Bola Tinubu, state governors, and other Nigerian leaders.
Speaking to journalists on Thursday during the ongoing pilgrimage in Makkah, NAHCON stressed that these leaders remain integral parts of Nigerian society despite the country’s many challenges.
However, they appealed to pilgrims to offer prayers for the nation’s progress rather than resorting to curses or negativity.
Rafee Al-Ijebuwi, Grand Mufti of Ogun and a member of the NAHCON Ulama team for the 2025 Hajj operation, called on Nigerian pilgrims to pray for their country and leaders with the same devotion that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) showed for Mecca.
“As far as the country is concerned, every pilgrim here in the holy land should love Nigeria and should pray for Nigeria. He or she should love Nigeria the way Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) loved Mecca.
“As for our leaders, it is the responsibility of every pilgrim, male and female, to pray that Allah should inspire our leaders with what will benefit the masses of the country.
Sheikh Garba Al-Yolawi, Chief Imam of Area 10 Mosque in Abuja, also urged pilgrims to seek Allah’s guidance for Nigeria’s leaders amid the country’s numerous challenges, including security issues, economic hardship, moral decline, social vices, and governance problems.
“We need divine intervention. With about 50,000 pilgrims sincerely praying, Allah can change things.
“But we must not pray for the ‘driver of the car’ (our leaders) to crash while we are still passengers in the same car. If the driver crashes, so we do.
The advice comes amid growing public frustrations in Nigeria over worsening security and economic conditions.
NAHCON’s Ulama team called for patience, spiritual resilience, and constructive prayers during the sacred pilgrimage season.
