Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused President Bola Tinubu of using his announced Umrah pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia to conceal an alleged trip to France, demanding that the Presidency disclose the President’s full itinerary.
‎Atiku also questioned whether the trip was connected to Tinubu’s health and a reported $20bn loan request involving a French business partner, calling on the Presidency to address the issues and provide Nigerians with clear explanations.
‎‎The former vice-president made the allegations in a statement issued on Wednesday by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council.
‎‎According to Atiku, intelligence available to him suggested that Tinubu might make a brief appearance in Makkah before proceeding to France. He, however, did not provide details of the intelligence to support the claim.
‎‎Atiku challenged the Presidency to release current, date-stamped photographs and videos showing Tinubu at the Kaaba and participating in the rites of Umrah daily if the pilgrimage was genuinely intended to seek divine intervention for Nigeria.
‎‎He said he and other Nigerians would join the President in prayers for the country’s peace and progress, but warned against invoking the name of Allah in vain.
‎‎Atiku maintained that the President’s itinerary and the funding of the trip were matters of public interest, arguing that Nigerians deserved transparency regarding official engagements undertaken in the country’s name.
‎‎He urged the Presidency to respond to the questions and provide verifiable evidence of the President’s activities during the pilgrimage.
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