By Musa Ubandawaki,Sokoto

SOKOTO:- Nigerians performing the Ramadan lesser Hajj in the Holy City of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, have been urged to refrain from using abusive language, cursing the nation, or openly criticizing the country’s leadership while offering prayers during the sacred period.

The call was made by Yusuf Dingyadi, Senior Special Assistant on Media to the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in a statement made available to journalists in Sokoto on Sunday.

Dingyadi, who is currently in Saudi Arabia performing the Ramadan lesser Hajj alongside millions of Muslims from across the world, cautioned that praying against Nigeria and its leadership at holy sites could further deepen the nation’s challenges rather than help resolve them.

He expressed concern over videos circulating on social media showing some Nigerians verbally abusing or cursing political leaders while standing before the Holy Kaaba.

According to him, such conduct undermines the spiritual sanctity of the holy site where worshippers are expected to observe the highest level of reverence, humility, and fear of God.

The APC media aide stressed that pilgrimage to the Holy Land should be a period dedicated to sacrifice, repentance, and sincere prayers for personal and national redemption, not a platform for insults or political attacks.

“Those who travel to the Holy Land should focus on prayers for peace, unity, and progress of the nation rather than offering negative prayers or casting aspersions on leaders over leadership challenges,” he said.

Dingyadi noted that the appeal is particularly significant as Muslims across the globe enter the last ten days of Ramadan a period regarded as the most spiritually significant in the Islamic calendar, when believers intensify prayers and seek divine guidance and blessings.

He urged Nigerian pilgrims to use the sacred moment to pray for the country to overcome its pressing challenges, including insecurity, poverty, and social divisions.

While calling on citizens to remain constructive in their prayers, Dingyadi also advised leaders at all levels not to become a burden to the people, but to demonstrate responsibility and commitment in addressing the nation’s problems.

He emphasized that sincere leadership and collective prayers for unity and peace remain essential for Nigeria to overcome its current difficulties and move toward stability and national development.