Senator Adams Oshiomhole has defended President Bola Tinubu’s prayer trip to Saudi Arabia, attacking former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over his criticism of the visit and accusing him of returning to Nigeria from Dubai only when elections approach.
Speaking at the All Progressives Congress presidential campaign rally in Calabar, Cross River State, on Monday, Oshiomhole dismissed Atiku’s objection to the trip and predicted that he would return to Dubai after another electoral defeat.
“Atiku said we should not go and pray, all right, but Atiku lives in Dubai. He only comes home on the eve of every election, and he will lose in January. By February, Atiku will be back in Dubai,” he said.
The Edo North senator’s remarks followed Tinubu’s visit to Makkah to perform Umrah, during which the President was granted access to pray inside the Holy Kaaba.
Tinubu had said he sought wisdom and resilience to continue serving Nigerians and returned to express gratitude to Allah after undertaking a similar pilgrimage before the 2023 presidential election.
Oshiomhole also turned his criticism on Peter Obi, questioning the former Anambra governor’s promise to deliver results within a single four-year presidential term.
“If Peter Obi couldn’t fix Anambra in 8 years, how can he look you koro koro in the eyes and say he only needs 4 years,” he said.
Vice President Kashim Shettima was in Calabar to lead the APC rally, arriving at the Margaret Ekpo International Airport at about 12:10 PM.
Governor Bassey Otu received him alongside officials of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, party supporters, and political stakeholders from Cross River and other parts of the South-South.
Shettima and members of the campaign council subsequently visited the palace of the Obong of Calabar before proceeding to the Calabar Stadium, where party loyalists had gathered for the rally.
