Dada Olusegun, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Social Media, has dismissed claims that the President’s planned trip to Saudi Arabia is for medical treatment, saying he intends to perform the lesser Hajj, known as Umrah, and pray for Nigeria and his re-election in 2027.

Olusegun made this known on Thursday in a post on X while responding to human rights activist Omoyele Sowore, who had raised concerns about the President’s health and the timing of the planned foreign trip.

In a post on Wednesday, Sowore described Nigeria as being in “serious trouble”, alleging that arrangements were being made for Tinubu to travel abroad on Thursday, October 29, 2026, amid growing questions about his health.

He also claimed that five governors, some ministers and prominent businessmen were being assembled for the trip to give it the appearance of an official business visit.

“Like Yar’Adua, like Tinubu?” Sowore asked, referring to the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, whose prolonged illness and absence from the country sparked a national political crisis.

Reacting, Olusegun insisted that the President was travelling to Saudi Arabia for religious purposes rather than medical treatment.

“President Tinubu is not heading to Saudi Arabia for medical treatment. He is heading to the Holy Land for the Lesser Hajj (Umrah), like other Muslims across the world, to offer supplications for the country and commit his re-election journey into the hands of God,” he wrote.

The presidential aide said the trip was consistent with Tinubu’s previous visits to Makkah to perform Umrah ahead of major political milestones.

According to Olusegun, Tinubu travelled to Makkah in April 2022, before the All Progressives Congress presidential primary, and again in late December 2022, ahead of the 2023 presidential election.

He argued that the President’s decision to undertake another pilgrimage was consistent with his religious practice and desire to seek divine intervention ahead of the 2027 election.

Olusegun also cited Tinubu’s recent engagements as evidence that the President remained active in the discharge of his official duties.

He said Tinubu attended a rally in Kaduna on Saturday to flag off his re-election campaign, received former African Development Bank President Akinwumi Adesina on Wednesday and separately hosted the Director-General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority, Ola Awakan.

The aide added that the President chaired the Federal Executive Council meeting on Thursday, during which, according to him, consequential decisions were made.

“Mr Sowore, a ‘sick person’ would not have this many itineraries to accomplish. Mr President is fit as a fiddle, and no evil, as you are wishing for, will befall the People’s President,” Olusegun stated.

The exchange comes amid public scrutiny of Tinubu’s health and overseas travels as political activities gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general election. Sowore’s claims about the purpose of the trip were allegations, while Olusegun maintained that the visit was for religious observance.