The Presidency has explained the reason President Bola Ahmed Tinubu briefly lost his balance during an official event in Ankara, Turkey, saying the incident was minor and not related to his health.
Presidential spokesman, Mr Bayo Onanuga, addressed the issue on Tuesday after videos of the incident circulated widely on social media and raised concerns among Nigerians. According to him, the President stepped on a metal object on the floor, which caused him to momentarily lose his balance.
President Tinubu was in Ankara on an official state visit to Turkey, where he was hosted by Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The visit was part of ongoing diplomatic efforts to strengthen relations between Nigeria and Turkey in areas such as trade, security, energy, and infrastructure.
The incident happened shortly after President Tinubu inspected a guard of honour as part of the elaborate reception organised for him by the Turkish government. He was walking alongside President Erdogan when he appeared to miss a step and went down briefly.
A video clip of the moment quickly spread online, leading to speculation about the President’s health and fitness. Some social media users suggested that the President had fallen, while others raised questions about his physical condition.
Responding to enquiries, Mr Onanuga dismissed such claims, insisting that the incident was being exaggerated.
“The President stepped on a metal on the floor, which made him lose his balance,” Onanuga said. “This is not a big deal, except for those who want to make mischief out of a fleeting incident. It was a mere stumble, thank God, not a fall.”
He added that President Tinubu was in good health and continued with his official schedule without any problem after the incident.
A review of the video showed that the President lost balance around the same time a cameraman moved his tripod close to the path where the two leaders were walking. Observers noted that the equipment appeared to be close to the President’s feet, which may have contributed to the brief stumble.
Despite the incident, President Tinubu did not require medical attention and proceeded with meetings and engagements planned for the day. Officials said he remained active and alert throughout the visit.
The Presidency urged Nigerians to ignore what it described as unnecessary alarm and misinformation, stressing that the President’s health was not in danger.
President Tinubu, 72, has often been the subject of public discussion regarding his health, especially since assuming office in May 2023. During the 2023 presidential campaign, opposition figures raised questions about his fitness for office, claims which his supporters and medical team consistently dismissed.
Since becoming President, Tinubu has undertaken several local and international trips and has attended long meetings, summits, and public events. The Presidency has repeatedly maintained that he is capable of handling the demands of office.
“Any small incident involving a president will naturally generate reactions,” said a Lagos-based political analyst. “The key thing is how quickly clear information is provided, which the Presidency has done in this case.”
President Tinubu’s visit to Turkey is seen as important, as Nigeria and Turkey have enjoyed strong diplomatic and economic ties for years. Turkish companies are involved in construction, power projects, and manufacturing in Nigeria, while both countries cooperate on security and defence matters.
During the visit, Tinubu and Erdogan were expected to hold bilateral talks aimed at expanding trade and investment between the two nations. Discussions were also expected to focus on regional security, counter-terrorism, and cooperation in education and technology.
The grand reception given to Tinubu in Ankara reflected the importance Turkey attaches to its relationship with Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy and most populous country.
Officials familiar with the visit said the minor incident did not affect the mood of the event or the discussions between both leaders.
“This was a very small issue that did not distract from the purpose of the visit,” a government source said. “The President was fine and carried on with his duties.”
In recent times, the Presidency has become more proactive in responding to reports and videos circulating online, especially those touching on the President’s health or security. This, officials say, is to prevent the spread of false information and unnecessary panic.
As reactions continue, many Nigerians have urged the public to focus on the outcomes of the President’s foreign engagements rather than isolated moments taken out of context.
For now, the Presidency insists that there is no cause for concern, maintaining that President Tinubu is healthy and fully in charge of his responsibilities, and that the incident in Ankara was nothing more than a brief loss of balance caused by stepping on an object.
