Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, and his Yobe State counterpart, Mai Mala Buni, have prayed for Nigeria’s unity, peace and stability during their visit to the Holy Kaaba in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
The governors, who accompanied President Bola Ahmed Tinubu into Islam’s holiest sanctuary during his Umrah pilgrimage, said they used the rare opportunity to seek divine intervention for the country’s progress, national harmony and prosperity.
Speaking in separate interviews after entering the Kaaba alongside the President, both governors described the experience as a lifetime achievement and an extraordinary privilege for Muslims.
Governor Sani said the opportunity was particularly important given Nigeria’s current need for lasting peace, unity and stability.
“Actually, this is a lifetime wish for every Muslim because it is a rare privilege. What is more important is getting this very rare opportunity to enter the Kaaba and pray at this critical moment in the history of our country.
“We seized this opportunity, most importantly, to pray for our country, to pray for the unity of our country and to pray for the peace of our country. I believe this is the right time for that”, he said.
The Kaduna governor also appreciated Tinubu for extending the privilege to members of his delegation, describing the gesture as a reflection of the President’s leadership and consideration.
“I want to thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for giving me this opportunity to join him because, like I said, he is a very great leader.
“When he had the opportunity, he called some of us to join him to enter the Kaaba alongside him.
“I have noted in my mind a lot of things we asked from Almighty Allah. Certainly, they will be granted by the grace of God because when we went in there, we prayed for the unity, peace and harmony of our country”, Sani added.
Similarly, Governor Buni described entering the Kaaba as a significant spiritual milestone, noting that such an opportunity was a rare blessing granted only by Allah’s will.
He said the experience allowed them to seek divine blessings for Nigeria, their respective states and their people.
“It is very significant in the life of every Muslim to have this rare privilege to enter the Kaaba. It is very, very significant. It is a lifetime achievement, and it is only when it is destined by Allah, Subhanahu wa Ta’ala, that it will be.
“As we were privileged to enter the Kaaba today, we were also privileged to pray for the country, our states, for peace, prosperity and stability”, Buni said.
Also speaking, the Group Chief Executive Officer of Matrix Group, Abdulkabir Adisa Aliu, described his entry into the sacred sanctuary as the fulfilment of a lifelong spiritual ambition.
Aliu, who thanked President Tinubu for the opportunity, said he had long prayed for the privilege of entering the Kaaba.
He also prayed for the President’s continued good health, divine guidance and the success of his administration in delivering prosperity to Nigerians.
“Alhamdulillah, this is a lifetime ambition. I have always prayed that I want to enter the Kaaba, and Alhamdulillah, under the leadership of our President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, it happened.
“I pray Allah, Subhanahu wa Ta’ala, to continue to guide him, to bless him, to grant him good health and to make Nigeria a prosperous country under his regime”, Aliu said.
President Tinubu and members of his delegation were granted access to the Holy Kaaba by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, during the President’s visit to Saudi Arabia.
The President expressed appreciation to the Saudi monarch for the privilege and also prayed for Nigeria’s unity, peace, development and prosperity, while reaffirming his commitment to building a stronger nation and creating a better future for Nigerians.