Nigeria 2027: The Africa Report viewpoint: Bola Tinubu’s slapstick moment in Ankara

During a state visit to Türkiye, the Nigerian president stumbled at an official ceremony in the presence of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Internauts have been having a field day just a few months ahead of a presidential election.

Was the Nigerian president emulating Morgan Freeman’s role in the 2019 film Angel Has Fallen? Or was it because of the tight-fitting European clothes his compatriots are not used to seeing him wear that Bola Tinubu stumbled during a state visit to Türkiye? Posted on X, the official video of this burlesque moment quickly made the rounds on social media.

In the footage, Nigeria’s head of state, wearing a mustard-coloured tie and grey overcoat, is welcomed by his counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at an official ceremony held in the capital, Ankara.

As the two men walk along a turquoise carpet, Tinubu’s foot appears to catch on something. The Nigerian president loses his balance and falls. A swarm of people rush in, just before an aerial shot replaces the close-up.

The show must go on
The spokesperson for the Nigerian presidency, Bayo Onanuga, explained that the head of state had stepped on a metal object lying on the ground, but that he was “in very good shape” after the incident.

Nigeria is big enough – someone else can run the country

The state visit continued as planned, according to the established schedule, with an immediate bilateral meeting. Nigeria and Türkiye signed nine agreements on commercial and military cooperation. With United States and French representatives having recently travelled to Abuja, Nigeria appears determined to multiply partnerships in the areas of security and counter-terrorism.

The harmless nature of the fall in Türkiye has not stopped some internet users from speculating about Tinubu’s age of 73. “Dad, honestly, you need to rest,” quips @bouba01boubs48, adding that “Nigeria is big enough – someone else can run the country.”

Meanwhile, Onanuga denounced “those who want to make a whole story out of a fleeting incident”, specifying that, in his view, it was “a simple stumble, thank God, not a fall”.

Political stability
Even if the head of state’s term has not been plain sailing, it shows few signs of political weakness. A year ahead of the general elections, defections to the presidential party – the All Progressives Congress (APC) – have been coming thick and fast.

Thirty out of 36 governors officially support Tinubu, including former members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the governor of Kano, Abba Kabir Yusuf, who left his party, the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP). Even the son of historic opponent Atiku Abubakar has rallied to the president’s green-white-blue colours. A reelection of the incumbent at the presidential poll seems within reach.

Tinubu pries Kano governor from NNPP in blow to Kwankwaso ahead of 2027
The Nigerian president had already fallen in public, in June 2024, managing the incident with self-deprecation. His falls were less spectacular, however, than that of Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe in 2015, on a staircase.

Ardo  Zubairu 
National Secretary 
TInubu Re- Election Project 2027 . Office Phones: 
08033305195
08098885195
07033454053

Follow this link to join  https://chat.whatsapp.com/GGyI5S8pxi78dcZ3fKciGB





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