Oyo State governor and 2027 presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement, Seyi Makinde, has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s trip to Saudi Arabia, saying the president must stop deceiving Nigerians.

Mr Makinde, who stated this during the APM’s South-East town hall meeting in Enugu on Thursday, tasked Mr Tinubu’s administration on transparency.

“I saw on social media that our president is travelling to Saudi Arabia to pray for Nigeria,” Mr Makinde said. “Well, prayers are answered even in this country. We’ll stay here and pray for Nigeria and our leaders because Nigeria belongs to all of us. When the tide is high, all the boats will rise.”

“Pray for Nigeria, but stop all the deceit and tell Nigerians the true situation of things so that as you’re praying, our prayers will not be vain.”

Mr Makinde also slammed the president’s decision to seek additional borrowing despite claims of improved revenue generation and the country’s growing external reserves.

“They said we have a lot of money in our external reserve and that the Nigeria Revenue Service has surpassed the target for the year, but we still have to go and borrow money. How does it add up?

“I came from the private sector; at the age of 29, I have paid salaries for workers till today. So, I know when the economy is expanding. One of the indications is that within your economic space, you will have long-term facilities,” the governor noted.

Mr Makinde’s remarks trailed Mr Tinubu’s planned trip to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah, an Islamic spiritual exercise involving a pilgrimage to the Holy City.

Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga said the trip would give the president an opportunity for spiritual reflection, devotion, and prayers for Nigeria’s peace, unity, stability, and continued progress.

Meanwhile, the African Democratic Congress’ 2027 presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, alleged that Mr Tinubu’s trip was due to health concerns.