The brief stumble by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during his official visit to Türkiye has sparked widespread debate in Nigeria. However, Turkish officials have reportedly dismissed the controversy as “silly” and “mischievous,” according to Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM).
Dabiri-Erewa made the disclosure on Wednesday while responding to a post on X by a user, Oguntoye Opeyemi (Equityoyo), who had commented on media reactions to the incident. “Exactly. On ground here in Ankara, their officials were shocked to learn that it was an issue in Nigerian media/blogs,” she wrote.
According to Dabiri-Erewa, one Turkish official told her that the attention given to the stumble was “silly and mischievous,” noting that the focus in Türkiye was on the success of the presidential visit, which was widely celebrated across Turkish media. “One of them described it as ‘silly and mischievous,’ and reiterated how their country was excited about the incredible success of the visit by @officialABAT, which is all over their media here,” she added.
Opeyemi also highlighted that the incident received no coverage in Türkiye’s mainstream media. “Not a single Turkish TV station reported the President’s accidental slip because it’s a non-issue. But Naija TV and national newspapers,” he noted.
The incident occurred on Tuesday during a ceremonial march-past organised in Ankara for the Nigerian President’s reception. Tinubu stumbled briefly while walking alongside Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in the guard of honour. Video footage, initially shared by Turkish digital news platform Nefes Gazetesi and later circulated widely on X, showed the President losing his balance momentarily before continuing without further incident.
Despite the video going viral in Nigeria, the Presidency has downplayed the incident repeatedly. The President’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, assured Nigerians that Tinubu remained “hale and hearty” and continued with his scheduled engagements. “President Tinubu, after a stately welcome ceremony in Ankara, proceeded to scheduled bilateral meetings with the President of Türkiye and other senior government officials,” Dare wrote on his verified X handle.
Similarly, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, described the stumble as minor, stressing that it was caused by Tinubu stepping on a metal on the floor. “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,” Onanuga said.
The Presidency has urged Nigerians to ignore sensationalist reporting and focus instead on the purpose and achievements of the visit. The trip, which is President Tinubu’s first official visit to Türkiye, is aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and expanding cooperation in sectors including defence, trade, investment, energy, media, and scientific research.
The reception in Ankara was attended by senior Nigerian officials, including the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN); Minister of Finance, Wale Edun; Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake; and Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.).
Diplomatic analysts say that official state visits, particularly to countries like Türkiye, are complex affairs where every detail is carefully coordinated. Ceremonial marches, guard-of-honour protocols, and public receptions are often highly formal, with leaders walking in precise formations. Minor incidents, such as brief stumbles, are common and rarely affect the overall success of a visit.
Observers note that the viral nature of the video in Nigeria is largely due to social media and the heightened political scrutiny of President Tinubu, rather than the actual significance of the stumble itself. While the video attracted thousands of reactions online, Turkish media focused instead on bilateral meetings, trade agreements, and collaborative announcements made during the visit.
According to diplomatic sources, Türkiye sees the visit as a major success for both countries. The Nigerian delegation reportedly secured agreements to expand cooperation in defence procurement, trade facilitation, and investment in energy and infrastructure. The visit also included discussions on scientific collaboration and media partnerships, reflecting a comprehensive effort to strengthen ties.
The Presidential Advisory team in Abuja emphasized that such achievements are the key outcomes of the visit, not the minor ceremonial mishaps that naturally occur during formal events. Officials argue that attention to these minor incidents in the Nigerian media reflects domestic political dynamics rather than the realities of the visit abroad.
President Tinubu’s engagements in Ankara included meetings with top Turkish officials to discuss investment opportunities for Nigerian businesses and collaborative projects in renewable energy. The visit also strengthened Nigeria-Türkiye diplomatic relations, signalling closer economic and security cooperation.
Social media, however, amplified the stumble, with some users turning the incident into memes or exaggerated reports. Analysts warn that this trend is not unique to Nigeria but highlights the growing influence of digital platforms in shaping public perception. Despite this, both the Turkish government and senior Nigerian officials on the ground maintain that the stumble had no impact on the visit’s overall success.
Nigerians in the diaspora, especially those in Ankara, reportedly expressed surprise at the attention the stumble received in Nigeria. Dabiri-Erewa noted that officials in Türkiye were “shocked” that such a minor incident became a topic of debate back home. She stressed that the Nigerian public should instead celebrate the strengthened bilateral relations and ongoing cooperative projects.