President Stumbled, Did Not Fall in Türkiye, Onanuga Clarifies, Dismisses Tinubu Health Scare

… Presidency Dismisses Health Fears, Says State Visit Firmly on Course

By Peter Salami

The Presidency yesterday moved swiftly to dispel widespread speculation that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu fell during a ceremonial guard inspection parade in Türkiye, clarifying that the Nigerian leader merely stumbled on a metal object but did not fall.

Presidential Spokesman, Mr Bayo Onanuga, in a formal statement and a separate interaction with KTH Daily, said the incident had been grossly misrepresented in some media reports and online commentary.

According to Onanuga, the President briefly lost his balance after stepping on a metal object during the parade but quickly recovered without any injury or disruption to the programme.

“The President stepped on a metal on the floor, which made him lose his balance,” Onanuga explained.
“It was a mere stumble, thank God, not a fall. This is not a big deal, except for those who want to make mischief out of a fleeting incident.”

He stressed that the incident was minor and should not be sensationalised, adding that President Tinubu remained physically fit, stable and fully engaged with his official duties in Ankara.

Backing this position, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Mr Sunday Dare, also issued an update via his verified X handle, assuring Nigerians that the President was hale and hearty and that the Türkiye state visit was proceeding according to schedule.

Dare disclosed that after the ceremonial welcome in Ankara, President Tinubu moved directly into his official programme, including scheduled bilateral meetings with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and other senior government officials.

“President Tinubu, after a stately welcome ceremony in Ankara, proceeded to scheduled bilateral meetings with the President of Türkiye and other senior government officials,” the Presidency said.

According to the statement, the high-level engagements are focused on deepening diplomatic relations and expanding cooperation across strategic sectors, including defence and security, trade and investment, energy, and broader economic development.

The Presidency noted that the smooth progression of the visit reflects the strengthening ties between Nigeria and Türkiye and underscores Nigeria’s renewed diplomatic outreach under the Tinubu administration.

Earlier reports had claimed that President Tinubu stumbled and fell during the welcome ceremony in the Turkish capital, suggesting that he missed his step while walking alongside President Erdoğan and had to be supported by aides and protocol officials.

However, the Presidency has firmly rejected that narrative, insisting that the President did not fall, but only stumbled briefly, urging the public to disregard attempts to exaggerate or politicise what it described as a minor and harmless incident.