Turkish officials have dismissed as “silly” the controversy generated in Nigeria over President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s brief stumble during his official visit to Turkey, according to the Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa.
Dabiri-Erewa made this known on Wednesday while responding to a post on X by Oguntoye Opeyemi (Equityoyo), who commented on reactions by Nigerian media to the incident. She said Turkish officials in Ankara were surprised that the moment attracted significant attention in Nigeria.
“On ground here in Ankara, their officials were shocked to learn that it was an issue in Nigerian media/blogs,” Dabiri-Erewa wrote. She added that one of the officials described the attention given to the incident as “silly and mischievous,” stressing that the visit itself was being widely celebrated in Turkey.
Opeyemi also noted that the incident received no coverage in Turkey’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 wrote.
President Tinubu briefly stumbled on Tuesday during a ceremonial march-past organised in his honour at the parade ground in Ankara. The incident occurred as he joined the guard of honour and did not disrupt the programme. A video of the moment later circulated on social media showed the President momentarily losing his balance before being quickly assisted by security operatives.
Despite the video going viral in Nigeria, the Presidency has repeatedly downplayed the incident. The President’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, said Tinubu remained “hale and hearty” and continued with his scheduled engagements. Similarly, the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, described the stumble as minor, attributing it to the President stepping on a metal surface.
President Tinubu’s visit to Turkey, his first official trip to the country, is aimed at strengthening diplomatic relations and expanding cooperation in defence, trade, investment, energy, media, and scientific research.
