In supplication and total submission to the Almighty, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Monday, at the Holy Ka’abah, Makkah, where he had gone to observe Umrah, the lesser hajj, handed his re-election challenges to Allah, in whom he trusted.
With a tinge of drama, Tinubu, who held and kissed the Al-Hajar al-Aswad otherwise called the Black Stone, in a symbolic sunnah, often performed in emulation of the Prophet Mohammad, however, prayed for wisdom and strength.
The Black Stone is one of the most sacred objects in Islam, embedded in the southeastern corner of the Holy Ka’abah in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, surrounded by a silver frame.
Muslims hold it in great reverence because Islamic tradition teaches that it came from paradise and that Prophet Mohammad kissed it. It is therefore an expression of faith and reverence, not an act of worshipping the stone.
The president, who concluded his five-day visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, reflected on his spiritual journey to the Holy land, during which the Custodian of the Holy Mosques of Makkah and Madinah, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, granted him a rare privilege of leading Nigeria’s delegation to pray inside the Holy Ka’abah.
At the Holy Ka’abah, Tinubu offered prayers of gratitude to the Almighty Allah for the privilege of serving as Nigeria’s President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
Sheikh Dahlulah Muthawal of Masjid al-Haram led the president into the Ka’abah.
The president described the honour as a historic and deeply cherished spiritual experience, reflecting the longstanding bonds of friendship, mutual respect and cooperation between Nigeria and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
“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.
“I thank the Crown Prince and all the administrators of the holy land. I thank them for the hospitality and recognition given to me as the leader of the delegation and the country.
“We are all facing challenges and hostility around us. We will overcome them with faith in God Almighty. I’m grateful forever. I thank the King and the royal Crown Prince.
“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.”
Tinubu said he asked Allah for wisdom and resilience to continue serving Nigerians, and expressed confidence that his prayers have been answered.
According to him, “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 reflected on the message from the Holy Qur’an in Surah Aal-Imran, Verse 26, which affirmed that Almighty Allah is the Owner of all sovereignty, granting power and authority to whom He wills and taking them away from whom He wills.
The president said power is a trust that must be exercised responsibly, with humility and in the service of the people, recognisingthat no position of authority is permanent and that ultimate sovereignty belongs to Almighty Allah.
“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,” the president said, quoting the Qur’an.
Tinubu said faith in Allah had strengthened his conviction that his emergence as Nigeria’s leader was an extraordinary blessing that must be matched with 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.
Tinubu reiterated his commitment to Project Nigeria and his determination to build a prosperous nation, invest in the future of young Nigerians, and pursue development in line with the will of Almighty Allah and the people’s aspirations.
He emphasised that his commitment to Project Nigeria had become even stronger, assuring Nigerians of his resolve to pursue policies and programmes that would promote prosperity, national development and shared progress.
“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.
“It is important to put Allah first, then move on. Follow your conscience. Follow the right path that will lead Nigeria to that greatness,” Tinubu said.
On the nation’s economic outlook, the president expressed optimism about the progress made under his watch, describing the economic foundation as solid and the country’s emergence from a difficult period as encouraging.
“The foundation is solid, and the economy has come out of the dark tunnel. This is inspiring.”
He maintained, however, that nation-building required sustained investment in young Nigerians’ future, noting that today’s leaders’ decisions would determine how future generations remember them.
“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.
Tinubu reiterated that his administration would remain focused on strengthening the country’s economic foundations, expanding opportunities for young people and creating the conditions necessary for Nigerians to realise their potential.
