President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed renewed determination to serve Nigeria, saying he believes Almighty Allah has answered his prayer for the wisdom and resilience to continue leading the country.
The President made the remarks on Monday while reflecting on his recent spiritual journey to Saudi Arabia, where he performed Umrah and was granted the rare opportunity to enter the Holy Ka’abah in Makkah with members of the Nigerian delegation.
Tinubu expressed appreciation to Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for granting the delegation access to the sacred site, describing the experience as a historic and deeply meaningful moment.
Sheikh Dahlulah Muthawal of Masjid al-Haram led the President into the Ka’abah, where Tinubu offered prayers of gratitude to Allah for the privilege of serving as Nigeria’s President.
The President described the gesture as a reflection of the longstanding relationship between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia, built on friendship, mutual respect and cooperation.
He also expressed gratitude for the hospitality extended to him and his delegation, noting that the experience had strengthened his faith and commitment to national service.
Tinubu recalled that before the 2023 presidential election, he had also performed Umrah and prayed for Allah’s blessings. He said his return to the holy land was partly to fulfil his promise to give thanks.
According to the President, his prayers during the latest pilgrimage focused on obtaining wisdom and resilience to continue serving Nigerians.
He stressed that political authority ultimately belongs to Allah, drawing inspiration from Surah Aal-Imran, Verse 26 of the Holy Qur’an, which teaches that sovereignty belongs to God, who grants and withdraws power according to His will.
Tinubu said leadership should therefore be exercised with humility, responsibility and a genuine commitment to the welfare of the people.
He described his emergence as President and Commander-in-Chief as a significant blessing, adding that the privilege carried an obligation to work towards Nigeria’s development.
The President reaffirmed his commitment to what he described as Project Nigeria, promising to pursue policies and programmes aimed at promoting prosperity, national growth and shared progress.
He expressed optimism about the country’s economic direction, saying the foundation was solid and Nigeria had made encouraging progress after a difficult period.
Tinubu, however, emphasised the need to invest in young Nigerians, warning that the decisions taken by current leaders would shape how future generations remember them.
He said building a prosperous country required sustained efforts to create opportunities for young people and prepare them for the future.
The President urged Nigerians to put their faith in Allah, follow their conscience and remain committed to the right path towards national greatness.
