Political activist Mahdi Shehu has openly challenged the Presidency’s explanation of President Bola Tinubu’s stumble during an official event in Turkey, describing the account as implausible and poorly thought out.
Shehu made the remarks in a post on X late Tuesday, reacting to comments attributed to presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, who said the president lost his balance after stepping on a metal object at the venue.
Questioning the credibility of that explanation, Shehu argued that it was unlikely such an object could remain on the ground at a location that would have undergone extensive security screening ahead of a presidential appearance.
“Stepped on a metal object? Excuse me. At a parade ground that must have been under security scrutiny for the past seven days?” Shehu wrote. “This is a very unintelligent and unschooled narrative. Simply admit that he is too weak, sleepy, too fragile, too frail, too tired, too geriatric for such a globetrotting jamboree.”
President Tinubu stumbled on Tuesday during a formal welcome ceremony in Ankara, Turkey’s capital, as he walked alongside Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The moment quickly circulated on social media, drawing widespread attention and debate.
Responding to the incident, Onanuga played down concerns, insisting that the president merely lost his footing after stepping on a metal object and quickly regained balance.
“This is not a big deal, except for those who want to make mischief out of a fleeting incident,” the spokesman said. “It was a mere stumble, thank God, not a fall.”
Despite the reassurance, the episode has continued to fuel public discussion, with critics questioning the transparency of the official explanation and supporters dismissing the incident as trivial. As reactions pour in, the presidency’s handling of the moment remains under scrutiny both at home and online.
