Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has challenged President Bola Tinubu to provide daily, date-stamped photographs and videos to prove he is actually performing Umrah in Makkah.
Atiku, in a statement issued on Wednesday by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council, questioned the real destination and purpose of the President’s announced pilgrimage.
He alleged that information available to him suggested President Tinubu might be using the Umrah as a cover to travel to France, rather than spending the duration of the trip in Saudi Arabia.
According to the statement, if President Tinubu is truly travelling to pray for Nigeria, the Presidency should release clear, current, date-stamped photographs and videos each day showing him at the Kaaba and participating in the rites of Umrah.
Atiku argued that Nigerians deserve verifiable evidence of the President’s presence in the holy city and an explanation of his daily activities and funding arrangements for what has been presented as a national spiritual mission.
The former vice president also claimed that credible intelligence available to him pointed to France as the President’s actual destination and questioned whether the journey was connected to the President’s health and a reported $20 billion loan request involving a French business partner. The statement, however, did not provide evidence to support the allegations or details of the alleged loan.
He said the demand for transparency was necessary to ensure accountability and that a mission undertaken in the name of Nigeria and in the name of Almighty Allah should be approached with sincerity.
Atiku added that he would join the President in prayers for the country’s peace and progress.
As of press time, the Presidency has not responded to the allegations, which remain claims by the Atiku camp and have not been independently verified.