Melaye issued the challenge in a post on his official X account on Monday, declaring his readiness to engage the President in a contest involving Quranic citations immediately after his return from the Middle East.
The former senator’s challenge comes amid public attention surrounding Tinubu’s religious activities in Saudi Arabia, particularly his visit to the Holy Ka’abah in Makkah.
In his post, Melaye directly addressed the President, expressing confidence in his ability to engage him in the proposed religious knowledge contest.
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 statement has attracted attention because it comes shortly after reports of the President’s spiritual activities in the Islamic holy city of Makkah, where he is performing Umrah, a voluntary Islamic pilgrimage that can be undertaken at any time of the year, unlike the annual Hajj.
Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, had earlier shared details of the President’s religious engagements in Saudi Arabia, including his visit to the Holy Ka’abah, the sacred structure located within the Masjid al-Haram in Makkah.
The President’s visit has generated public discussion, with political supporters and other Nigerians commenting on the significance of his religious journey.
Melaye, a former member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) who later became associated with opposition politics, is known for his outspoken comments on national issues and his frequent criticism of political leaders.
His latest intervention has introduced a different dimension to the public conversation surrounding Tinubu’s Saudi Arabian visit, shifting attention from the President’s pilgrimage to a proposed contest over Islamic religious knowledge.
Although Melaye did not provide details of the proposed competition, his statement indicated that he wanted the engagement to take place after Tinubu returned to Nigeria.
He also did not outline the format, rules or specific areas of Quranic knowledge that would be covered in the proposed contest.
The former senator’s remark, particularly his assertion that “No one can mock God”, has also drawn attention to the religious undertones of the challenge.
Tinubu has not publicly responded to Melaye’s invitation to participate in the proposed competition.
It remains unclear whether the President would accept the challenge or whether the former senator intends to pursue the matter beyond his social media declaration.
The development comes against the backdrop of the increasingly active use of social media by Nigerian politicians to express political disagreements, challenge public officials and engage in debates that attract national attention.
For now, Melaye’s challenge has placed the proposed Quranic citation contest among the latest political conversations surrounding the President’s Umrah visit.
