Denge Josef Onoh, the Chairman of the Forum of Former Members of the Enugu State House of Assembly and former Southeast Spokesman to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has downplayed worries about President Tinubu’s brief slip during an official engagement in Turkey, characterizing it as a typical human occurrence rather than a health problem.
Onoh claimed that opposition politicians were using what he called “baseless propaganda” to take advantage of a small incident that happened on Tuesday during the President’s official visit to Turkey.
According to reports, President Tinubu momentarily tripped during a formal welcome in Ankara. This occurrence swiftly sparked intense emotions on Nigerian media outlets.
In response, Onoh emphasized that such incidents are typical dangers connected to high-level official engagements and stated that the momentary stumble did not reflect the President’s health or lessen the significance of the visit.
He clarified that in the face of intense public scrutiny, international leaders frequently traverse unfamiliar sites, ceremonial customs, and rigorous schedules, making occasional mistakes inevitable.
Onoh listed a number of international instances, such as the 1975 fall of former US President Gerald Ford from the stairs of Air Force One in Austria. He also mentioned incidences involving previous US Presidents Barack Obama, who momentarily stumbled while disembarking from Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base in 2015, and Joe Biden, who stumbled on the aircraft stairs in 2021.
Other notable figures included former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, former Cuban leader Fidel Castro, who fell from a stage in 2004, and Chinese President Xi Jinping, all of whom had comparable experiences while doing their official duties.
According to Onoh, “these examples serve as reminders that even the most accomplished leaders are human and prone to occasional missteps.”
Onoh cited the President’s team’s comments regarding the incident’s cause, which linked the slip to an uneven surface caused by the venue’s badly laid blue carpet.
It has nothing to do with health. He said, “President Tinubu immediately regained his composure, received assistance, and proceeded with his program with ease.”
Onoh emphasized that the event had no bearing on the visit’s goals, which included boosting commerce and investment, extending defense cooperation, investigating prospects for infrastructure development, and fortifying bilateral ties between Nigeria and Turkey.
He claims that President Tinubu showed resiliency and an unrelenting dedication to national responsibilities by holding planned bilateral meetings with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and other senior authorities.
“Any minor personal discomfort a leader experiences in the service of Nigeria—whether a stumble or greater sacrifice—is worthwhile if it advances the greater good of the nation,” stated Onoh.
Instead than exaggerating brief instances for political purposes, he advised opposition leaders to concentrate on providing positive ideas and workable policy options.
Onoh urged Nigerians to concentrate on unity, advancement, and shared national prosperity while reiterating that President Tinubu is still in good health and fully dedicated to carrying out his mandate.
