President Tinubu Stumbles at Ankara Ceremony, Presidency Assures He is in “Great Shape”
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu experienced a brief stumble upon arrival at an official welcoming ceremony in Ankara, Turkey, on Monday, an incident quickly addressed by his office to dispel concerns about his well-being.
Videos circulating widely on social media show President Tinubu, walking past a line of soldiers and dignitaries alongside his Turkish counterpart, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, momentarily losing his balance. The footage shows the President moving to his right before stumbling and falling. He was promptly assisted to his feet by aides.
Responding to the viral clips, Presidential Spokesperson Sunday Dare took to social media platform X to assure the public of the President’s condition. “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is in great shape,” Dare stated. He confirmed that the incident was a brief falter and that the President “was able to proceed his state visit smoothly” thereafter.
The stumble occurred at the outset of a state visit aimed at strengthening bilateral relations between Nigeria and Turkey. The visit is scheduled to include high-level talks focusing on deepening economic, defense, and cultural ties between the two nations.
The Presidency has framed the incident as a minor occurrence, emphasizing the President’s full participation in the day’s diplomatic engagements without further issue. The visit continues as planned, with both leaders expected to discuss key areas of cooperation, including trade agreements and regional security collaborations.
The moment highlights the intense scrutiny world leaders face in the age of instant social media, where brief, unscripted incidents can quickly generate global attention. The Nigerian government’s swift response aimed to prevent any misinterpretation and refocus attention on the official agenda of the state visit.
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