President Bola Tinubu yesterday departed Abuja for Makkah, Saudi Arabia, to perform Umrah, the lesser pilgrimage, with prayers for Nigeria’s peace, unity, stability and national progress expected to feature prominently in the spiritual exercise.

This comes as the Presidential Candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has accused President Bola Tinubu of using his announced Umrah pilgrimage as a smokescreen or subterfuge, saying credible intelligence available to him points to France as the President’s actual destination.

In a statement issued by the ADC Presidential Campaign Council’s Director of Strategic Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said there was reason to believe President Tinubu might make only a brief appearance in Makkah before proceeding to France.

He also raised questions about whether the trip is connected to the President’s health and a reported $20 billion loan request involving a French business partner.

Atiku called on the Presidency to address these concerns and disclose the President’s full itinerary.

Atiku said that if President Tinubu was 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.

He argued that Nigerians deserve verifiable proof of the President’s presence in Makkah and a transparent account of his daily activities in the Holy Land.

Atiku said he and other Nigerians would join President Tinubu in salat and prayers for the country’s peace and progress.

According to him, an official trip presented as a mission for Nigeria is a matter of public interest. Nigerians are entitled to know the President’s daily engagements and how the trip is being funded.

He urged the Presidency to answer these questions plainly and provide the evidence the country deserves.

Tinubu departed the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at about 2:20 p.m., accompanied by a delegation of senior government officials and state governors who were at the airport to see him off.

Before his departure, the Saudi Arabian Ambassador to Nigeria, Yousef Bin Mohammed Al-Balawi, presented the President with a bisht, a traditional Arabian overgarment, on behalf of the Saudi Crown Prince.

The Presidency announced the trip on Wednesday, stating that the President was expected to return to Nigeria next week after completing the Umrah rites.

According to the statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the pilgrimage would offer Tinubu an opportunity for spiritual reflection and devotion, including prayers for divine guidance and blessings for Nigeria and its people.

Among the dignitaries who saw him off were the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume; the Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq; the Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni; and the Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum.