Deji Elumoye in Abuja
President Bola Tinubu on Thursday afternoon departed the nation’s capital, Abuja for Makkah, Saudi Arabia, to carry out Umrah pilgrimage.
During the train often known as lesser Hajj, Tinubu will supply prayers for Nigeria’s peace, nationwide unity, stability and sustained growth.
The president’s aircraft, Nigeria Air Force 1, took off from the presidential wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at roughly 2:20 p.m, after a short departure ceremony attended by state governors and a few prime authorities officers who have been on floor to see him off.
Ahead of his departure, the Saudi Arabian Ambassador to Nigeria, Yousef Bin Mohammed Al-Balawi, offered the president with a Bisht, a standard Arabian ceremonial cloak, on behalf of the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia.
Also on floor on the airport to see the president off have been Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume; Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq; his Yobe and Borno States counterparts, Mai Mala Buni; and Babagana Zulum respectively.
Others have been Governors of Kaduna, Uba Sani; Jigawa, Umar Namadi; Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto; Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi; Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate; and the member representing Ikorodu Federal Constituency within the House of Representatives, Hon Babajimi Benson.
The Nigerian Ambassador to Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala and Nicaragua, Ambassador Reno Omokri, and Director of Protocol on the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Ibrahim Sule Dan Agundi, additionally attended the departure ceremony.
Presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, had on Wednesday confirmed the deliberate journey by way of a press release issued indicating that President Tinubu was due again in Nigeria subsequent week upon completion of the non secular train.
Tinubu’s go to will present him a possibility for religious reflection and devotion, whereas he undertakes the non secular rites related to Umrah and looking for divine steering and blessings for Nigerians.
