Former Kogi West Senator, Dino Melaye, has challenged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to a Qur’anic citation competition following the President’s recent spiritual visit to Saudi Arabia, where he performed Umrah, the lesser Hajj.
Melaye issued the challenge on Monday, November 2, 2026, through a post on his official X account, declaring his readiness to engage the President in a contest involving the citation of passages from the Holy Qur’an immediately after his return from Saudi Arabia.
In his message, the former lawmaker 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 comes amid public attention surrounding Tinubu’s religious activities in Makkah, particularly his reported access to the Holy Ka’abah, where he offered prayers alongside members of his delegation.
According to reports, the President travelled to Saudi Arabia on October 29, 2026, ahead of the pilgrimage, performing Umrah at the Grand Mosque, Masjid al-Haram, on October 30.
The Presidency, through the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, shared details of the spiritual exercise, including Tinubu’s opportunity to enter the sacred Ka’abah following approval from Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
Speaking about his experience, Tinubu disclosed that his prayers centred on seeking divine wisdom and resilience to continue serving Nigerians. He also expressed gratitude to Almighty Allah for the opportunity to lead the country.
The President further reflected on the Quranic teaching in Surah Aal-Imran, Verse 26, which speaks about Allah’s absolute authority over sovereignty, power and leadership.
Tinubu reportedly emphasised that political authority ultimately belongs to God, who gives power and can take it away from anyone.
He also reaffirmed his commitment to national development, saying his determination to deliver prosperity and improve the country's future had been strengthened by the spiritual experience.
However, Melaye’s challenge has introduced another dimension to the public conversation surrounding the President’s pilgrimage, with the former senator appearing to question the religious undertones of the attention generated by Tinubu’s spiritual activities.
His closing remark, “No one can mock God,” has particularly attracted attention, although he did not provide further clarification on the specific circumstances behind the statement.
The development has also generated reactions from political commentators and public figures. Former media aide to the late President Muhammadu Buhari, Bashir Ahmad, criticised Melaye’s challenge, describing it as insulting and disrespectful.
Ahmad questioned the propriety of turning a religious matter into a public competition and also took a swipe at Melaye over the spelling of the Holy Qur’an in his social media post.
The exchange highlights how religious identity, public expressions of faith and political rivalry can intersect in Nigeria's increasingly heated political atmosphere ahead of the 2027 general elections.
For now, there has been no reported official response from the Presidency accepting or rejecting Melaye’s challenge.
Whether Tinubu will respond to the former senator or simply ignore the invitation remains to be seen. Nevertheless, Melaye has placed an unusual challenge before the President, and Nigerians will be watching to see how the controversy develops.
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