They Went To Umrah With Northern Govs; Meanwhile His Cabinet Is Fortified With Yoruba People—Shaibu

Phrank Shaibu, Special Assistant on Public Communication to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the composition of his delegation during his recent trip to Saudi Arabia for the Umrah pilgrimage.

Shaibu expressed his concerns during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, November 2, 2026, where he discussed the political implications of the president’s trip and the inclusion of several northern governors in the delegation.

During the interview, Shaibu questioned the perceived imbalance between the regional representation of those who accompanied Tinubu to Saudi Arabia and the composition of his cabinet.

He argued that travelling with northern governors for the religious exercise did not necessarily demonstrate fairness in political appointments or genuine national inclusion. Making his position clear, Shaibu said, “They went to Umrah with northern governors; meanwhile his cabinet is fortified with Yoruba people.”

He further maintained that his criticism was not directed at the president’s decision to undertake the pilgrimage or invite governors from the northern region. Rather, he questioned what he described as a difference between the administration’s public display of inclusiveness and its approach to distributing political appointments.

According to Shaibu, the central issue was whether the president’s actions reflected genuine commitment to national unity and religious sincerity.

His comments have added another dimension to the political debate surrounding Tinubu’s Saudi Arabia visit, particularly concerning regional representation, political appointments and the administration’s relationship with different parts of the country.

The issue of equitable representation has remained an important subject in Nigeria’s political discussions, given the country’s diverse ethnic and regional composition.

Watch the video starting from 3:16 to 3:41