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President Bola Tinubu reaffirms his commitment to Project Nigeria, pledging to build a prosperous nation and invest in the future of young Nigerians.
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President thanks Saudi King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for granting him and members of his delegation the rare privilege of entering the Holy Ka’abah to offer prayers.
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Tinubu says he sought divine wisdom and resilience to continue serving Nigerians, expressing confidence that his prayers have been answered.
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President describes Nigeria’s economic foundation as solid, declaring that the country has emerged from a difficult period and must sustain investment in future generations.
November 02, (THEWILL) – President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed his commitment to Project Nigeria, declaring that he remains determined to build a prosperous nation, strengthen the country’s economic foundations and invest in the future of young Nigerians following his spiritual journey to Saudi Arabia, where he was granted the rare privilege of entering the Holy Ka’abah in Makkah to pray.
The President, who expressed gratitude to Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for the privilege, said he used the opportunity to seek divine wisdom and resilience to continue serving Nigerians.
Tinubu spoke on Monday while reflecting on his Umrah pilgrimage to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, during which he led members of his Nigerian delegation into the Holy Ka’abah to offer prayers.
According to a statement signed on Monday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Nigerian leader described the experience as historic and deeply cherished, saying it had further strengthened his determination to pursue national development in accordance with the will of Almighty Allah and the aspirations of Nigerians.
Tinubu Thanks Saudi King, Crown Prince For Ka’abah Privilege
The President specifically thanked King Salman, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques of Makkah and Madinah, and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for granting him and members of his delegation access to the Holy Ka’abah.
Sheikh Dahlulah Muthawal of Masjid al-Haram led the President into the sacred structure, where Tinubu offered prayers of gratitude to Almighty Allah for the privilege of serving as Nigeria’s President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
He described the gesture as a reflection of the longstanding friendship, mutual respect and cooperation between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia.
Expressing his appreciation, Tinubu said the colours of the Ka’abah’s fencing reminded him of Nigeria’s national identity.
“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”, the President said.
I Asked Allah For Wisdom, Resilience To Serve Nigerians
Reflecting on the prayers he offered inside the Ka’abah, Tinubu said he specifically sought divine wisdom and resilience to enable him to continue serving Nigerians.
He expressed confidence that his prayers had been answered, recalling that he also performed Umrah before the 2023 presidential election, when he sought Allah’s blessings and promised to return to express gratitude.
“Well, 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 said.
The President also reflected on Surah Aal-Imran, Verse 26 of the Holy Qur’an, which affirms that Almighty Allah owns all sovereignty, granting power and authority to whom He wills and taking them away from whom He wills.
He said the message reinforced his understanding that political power was a trust that must be exercised responsibly, with humility and in the service of the people.
Quoting the Qur’anic message, Tinubu said: “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.”
Tinubu said his 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.
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My Commitment To Project Nigeria Is Higher
Reaffirming his commitment to national development, Tinubu said his determination to build a prosperous country had become stronger, promising to pursue policies and programmes that would promote economic growth, national development and shared prosperity.
He urged Nigerians to put Allah first, follow their conscience and remain committed to the right path towards national greatness.
“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”, he said.
On the country’s economic outlook, the President expressed optimism about the progress recorded under his administration, describing the economic foundation as solid and Nigeria’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 added.
Tinubu, however, stressed the need for sustained investment in young Nigerians, saying the decisions taken by present leaders would determine how future generations would remember them.
He said building a prosperous country required deliberate investment in the future of young people, adding that the responsibility of leadership extended beyond immediate concerns to creating opportunities for generations yet unborn.
“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”, the President added.
He reiterated that his administration would remain focused on strengthening Nigeria’s economic foundations, expanding opportunities for young people and creating the conditions necessary for citizens to realise their potential.
Tinubu also thanked Almighty Allah for the opportunity to lead Nigeria, pledging to justify the confidence Nigerians had placed in him through purposeful leadership and an enduring commitment to national progress.
Fagbemi, Governors, Business Leaders Express Gratitude
Members of the Nigerian delegation who accompanied the President into the Holy Ka’abah also expressed gratitude to Almighty Allah for the opportunity to pray inside the sacred structure.
They included the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN); Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate; and governors of Borno, Sokoto, Jigawa, Kaduna, Yobe and Kwara states.
Captains of industry, including Chairman of BUA Group, Abdulsamad Isiaka Rabiu, and Chief Executive Officer of Oando, Wale Tinubu, also expressed appreciation to Allah and the President for the opportunity to enter the Ka’abah and offer prayers alongside him.
The Ka’abah, located within the Masjid al-Haram in Makkah, is the most sacred site in Islam and the direction towards which Muslims worldwide face during their daily prayers.
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