The Nigerian Presidency has issued a firm rebuttal to social media speculation regarding President Bola Tinubu’s health, following a widely circulated video of the President losing his footing during his official reception in Türkiye.
Official spokespersons clarified that the President is in “excellent spirits” and maintains a rigorous schedule during his state visit to Ankara.
The Incident: Logistics, Not Health
The brief stumble occurred on Tuesday as President Tinubu arrived for a formal welcome ceremony. According to the Presidency, the slip was the result of a technical oversight in the venue’s setup—specifically a poorly laid blue carpet—rather than any underlying medical concern.
Aides emphasized that the President recovered instantaneously, proceeding with the ceremonial protocols and subsequent high-level meetings without interruption.
“Mr. President missed his step very briefly and has continued his bilateral meetings with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan,” stated Dada Olusegun, Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, via his official X handle.
Diplomacy Remains the Focus
Despite the online chatter, the diplomatic mission in Ankara has proceeded at full throttle. Key highlights of the visit include:
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Strategic Talks: Intensive bilateral discussions between President Tinubu and Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan.
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Security & Trade: A joint commitment to counter-terrorism efforts and a strategic goal to push bilateral trade volume to $5 billion.
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Media Transparency: A live press conference followed the closed-door sessions to brief the public on the outcomes of the diplomatic engagement.
Context of Public Concern
Public sensitivity regarding the President’s physical stamina remains high, fueled in part by a similar incident during the 2024 Democracy Day parade in Abuja. However, the administration remains adamant that these isolated slips are minor logistical accidents and do not reflect the President’s capacity to lead.
The Presidency continues to shift the narrative back to policy wins, noting that while the video gained traction, the more significant story remains the N501 billion power sector debt settlement and the administration’s ongoing economic reforms.
