The Presidency has moved swiftly to quell speculations regarding President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s physical condition following a minor incident during his official state visit to Ankara, Türkiye, on Tuesday.
Officials have confirmed that the President is in excellent health and fully fit to continue with his diplomatic engagements.
The clarification became necessary after a video surfaced showing the President briefly losing his balance during a reception parade.
Addressing the situation, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, explained that the President had inadvertently stepped on a metal object on the floor, which caused a momentary loss of balance.
Onanuga dismissed the narrative attempting to portray the incident as a sign of ill health, describing it as a mere stumble rather than a fall.
He urged the public to disregard any sensationalist interpretations of the event, emphasizing that such minor mishaps can happen to anyone and do not reflect the President’s overall physical fitness.
“The President stepped on a metal on the floor, which made him lose his balance,” Onanuga stated. “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.”
The Presidency reassured Nigerians that President Tinubu remains robust and has already proceeded with his scheduled itinerary, including high-level bilateral meetings and other official duties in the Turkish capital.
The prompt response aims to shift focus back to the strategic objectives of the visit, which centers on strengthening ties between Nigeria and Türkiye.
