Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has defended his fitness, claiming he can successfully do seven trips as he did during Umrah.
Tinubu revealed this in an interview with Kano’s top independent radio station, Freedom Radio, shortly before returning to the country.
According to Tinubu, no sick individual can perform Umrah.
In contrast to the ajj, which has definite dates according to the Islamic calendar, umrah is an Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca that can be conducted at any time of year.
Tinubu landed at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport in Abuja on Sunday night and was greeted enthusiastically by loyalists and party supporters.
The APC candidate argued that he is qualified for the presidency, claiming that his detractors have nothing but lies and rumors to spread.
“I just did the Umrah,” he explained. I completed the seven rounds of tawaf as well as the seven excursions between Safa and Marwa on my own. Is it possible for a sick person to accomplish that? That’s old news, my brother.
“Those who make those insinuations have nothing but lies and rubbish to say. I’ve travelled around, spoken on many platforms, and stood for hours to address various audiences. They said I couldn’t walk before. They stated I couldn’t tolerate it, but they are embarrassed.
“Since the campaign started I have marshalled more original ideas than anyone else. I have exhibited knowledge, experience, and a strong ability to stay on top of national concerns. And this work is about thoughts and issues concerning our country’s leadership.
“I have all it takes to be the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and I am asking people of the country to have faith and respect for that, look at my background and my previous duties. I want to serve my nation, and I want to serve it well.”
Tinubu hailed his Umrah journey as a spiritual rebirth, adding that the country desperately needs prayers.
“It’s a personal adventure,” he explained. It is a spiritual rebirth journey. I enjoy coming to perform Umrah on occasion. It is a chance to communicate with Almighty Allah, Lam ya lid wa lam yulad. We require his advice. Nigeria is in desperate need of prayers, which is why we have gathered here to pray for our country, ourselves, and society.”
Tinubu also justified his decision to hold town hall meetings and political engagements, claiming that attending rallies across the country is insufficient to win the presidential race in 2023.
“We are reaching every Nigerian,” he stated. Rallies, we determined, aren’t always enough. We need to involve all Nigerians from all regions of the country and from all walks of life. We’ve hired business owners, farmers, miners, industrialists, entertainers, labor leaders, and more.
“By the engagements we are having, it is evident that we are going to win this election. The signals are evident as the elections approach, which is why our opponents are nervous. To win cheap points, they have now resorted to spreading fake news and taking some of my words out of context.
“Recently I was asked about gasoline subsidy reduction and I responded I will ensure we halt the wastage and re-channel the money to the people who actually need it. This is one position on which practically all of the contenders agree. We all agreed that the subsidy system is overused and that it benefits the wealthy over the poor. It must be removed. I couldn’t have objected to people expressing their own views on this.
“I believe in consultation, which is protected by democratic values and practices. I appreciate people’s opinions and would not be a part of silencing legitimate protests or dissenting viewpoints. I have experience with protests. So why should I advise people not to engage in well-intended protest? “There is no reason for that, and no abuse of power is intended,” he stated.
