A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Abayomi Nurain Mumuni, has warned opposition politicians against turning President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's recent Umrah pilgrimage to Makkah and his access to the Holy Kaaba into a political weapon ahead of the 2027 general elections. Mumuni, a renowned security expert and former governorship candidate in Lagos State, expressed concern over comments by some opposition figures who described the President's pilgrimage as a political exercise.
Mumuni, who has performed both Hajj and Umrah, said his personal experience of the pilgrimages had given him a deeper appreciation of the spiritual significance of visiting Makkah. He described the Kaaba as Islam's most sacred structure, noting that access to its interior is an exceptional privilege that should be treated with reverence rather than political ridicule. Mumuni emphasized that occupying the highest political office in Nigeria does not deprive anyone of the right to practise their religion.
In a press release issued on Tuesday by his media aide, Rasheed Abubakar, Mumuni expressed disappointment with what he described as attempts by some political elites associated with opposition parties to ridicule Islamic religious experiences for political advantage. He insisted that sacred matters should be treated with respect regardless of political affiliations. Mumuni recalled that he had been privileged to observe prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem on multiple occasions without turning the spiritual experience into a political celebration or spectacle.
The APC chieftain described the privilege granted to Tinubu by Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud as an exceptional religious and diplomatic gesture. He stressed that it should not be trivialised for partisan purposes, and cautioned against interpreting the honour as an automatic endorsement of the President's political ambition or a guarantee of electoral victory. Mumuni explained that its significance lies in the opportunity for prayer, gratitude, repentance, and seeking divine guidance.
Mumuni also recalled that former President Muhammadu Buhari was also granted access to the interior of the Kaaba in 2016, noting that the privilege was not unprecedented in Nigeria's presidential history. He urged opposition politicians to channel their energy towards presenting credible alternatives to the challenges confronting Nigerians, including insecurity, rising living costs, unemployment, education, and healthcare.
Mumuni expressed concern over attempts by some political commentators to turn Quranic knowledge into a contest or challenge designed to ridicule the President following his pilgrimage. He said the Holy Quran should be approached with sincerity, humility, and a genuine desire to understand its teachings rather than used as an instrument of partisan exchanges. Mumuni added that President Tinubu, like every other Muslim, was entitled to undertake religious obligations and make personal supplications without every aspect of his worship being subjected to electoral interpretations.
The former governorship candidate urged those seeking the mandate of Nigerians in 2027 to tell the people what they intend to do differently to improve their lives. He emphasized that responsible political engagement requires ideas, credible alternatives, and respect for the beliefs of fellow Nigerians. Mumuni further cautioned against using the President's pilgrimage to suggest that Muslims should support a particular candidate solely because of a religious experience.
Key points
- APC chieftain Abayomi Mumuni warns against politicizing President Tinubu's Kaaba honour.
- Mumuni emphasizes the spiritual significance of the Kaaba and the need for respect.
- He urges opposition politicians to focus on presenting credible alternatives to Nigeria's challenges.
