Former Kogi West Senator, Dino Melaye, has challenged President Bola Tinubu to a Quranic citation contest following his recent pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.
Melaye made the challenge in a post on his X handle on Monday, declaring his readiness to compete with the President in citing Quranic verses upon his return to Nigeria.
He wrote, “Now that Alhaji Bola Tinubu is in Umrah. Immediately he comes back, I challenge him to a Quranic citation competition with me. No one can mock God, SDM.”
The challenge follows Tinubu’s spiritual visit to Saudi Arabia, where he performed Umrah, the lesser Hajj, and received the rare privilege of entering the Holy Kaaba with members of his delegation.
In a statement issued on Monday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President disclosed that he prayed for wisdom and resilience to continue serving Nigerians, while reiterating his commitment to national development and prosperity.
“Well, I asked for wisdom and resilience to continue to serve the people. I know that prayer has been granted. Before the 2023 election, I did the same thing. I asked Allah to bless my Umrah then, and He did. And I promised that I would come back to thank Him,” the statement quoted Tinubu.
The President also appreciated Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for allowing him and his delegation to pray inside the Holy Kaaba.
Reflecting on Surah Aal-Imran, Verse 26 of the Quran, Tinubu emphasised that all power and authority belonged to Almighty Allah, who has the ultimate power to grant and withdraw leadership.
“There is no other God but Almighty Allah. He is the giver and the taker. He owns power and authority. He says, ‘If I give you, use it well. If you don’t use it in accordance with my dictates, I can take it from you and give it to another person. I am the only One who has that authority,” he said.
Tinubu further restated his commitment to Nigeria’s development, saying, “My commitment to Project Nigeria is higher. I am determined to usher in prosperity and fully develop the country, consistent with the wish of Allah and the support of the people.”
On the economy, the President expressed confidence in the country’s recovery, declaring, “The foundation is solid, and the economy has come out of the dark tunnel. This is inspiring.”
He also highlighted the importance of investing in the younger generation, adding, “We need to build a future for our youth. If we don’t invest in their future, how do we want to be remembered as leaders 50 years from now?”
