Tinubu is a man like us, Presidency Defends Fall At Eagles Square
The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has offered a robust defense following the President’s unexpected fall during the Democracy Day event held at Eagle Square.
On June 12, 2024, President Tinubu arrived at the venue to mark Nigeria’s Democracy Day celebrations. As he approached his vehicle, the President momentarily lost his footing and stumbled, an incident that quickly sparked varied reactions across the nation.
Despite the slip, President Tinubu swiftly regained his composure and continued with the day’s proceedings without further incident.
The incident has elicited a spectrum of reactions from Nigerians, especially on social media platforms.
Some netizens mocked the President, using the fall as a point of ridicule, while others minimised its significance, pointing out that Tinubu continued with his ceremonial duties undeterred.
In response to the incident, Onanuga took to his X (formerly Twitter) handle to address the situation.
Onanuga emphasized that President Tinubu’s fall should not overshadow the significance of Democracy Day.
He reminded Nigerians that the President is human and that occasional slips are a common human experience, even among world leaders.
President Tinubu is not a Superman. He is human, like all of us. President Biden has had several slips in the last three years.
Even the younger Barack Obama slipped while President. Political leaders are human. Slipping should not detract from the import of Democracy Day celebration,” Onanuga stated in his post.
Onanuga’s remarks were intended to reassure the public and to shift the focus back to the importance of Democracy Day, a celebration that marks the country’s return to democratic governance.
Former Kaduna Central Senator Shehu Sani also weighed in on the incident via X.com, defending the President. Sani emphasized that tripping and falling is a common human experience that does not diminish one’s leadership capabilities.
“Not Just President Tinubu, anyone alive can trip and fall; it happened to President Biden and Fidel Castro. Presidents are human beings and mortals,” Sani wrote.
