President Bola Tinubu has addressed the viral incident of his fall at the Eagle Square in Abuja during the 2024 Democracy Day celebration, describing it as “Swagger” and asserting that social media is misconstruing the event.
The incident occurred as Tinubu was boarding a parade vehicle on Wednesday.
Tinubu made these remarks during a dinner following the event, where he humorously commented on the circulating videos of his stumble.
Despite the fall, Tinubu emphasized that democracy is worth such symbolic gestures of humility.
FirstNews initially reported on Wednesday that Tinubu had tripped while boarding the parade vehicle but was promptly assisted by his security personnel and quickly regained his composure to proceed with the day’s activities.
The incident prompted varied reactions across social media platforms.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar expressed sympathy towards Tinubu for the mishap.
The Labour Party Presidential Candidate in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, strongly criticized those who took pleasure in the President’s fall, emphasizing that such incidents could happen to anyone.
During his speech at the dinner, Tinubu jovially remarked, “Early this morning, I had a swagger and it’s on social media. They are confused whether I was doing buga or doing babaringa, but it is a day to celebrate democracy while doing dobale for the day. I am a traditional Yoruba boy, I did my dobale.”
The term “swagger” used by Tinubu likely refers to his attempt to board the vehicle confidently, despite the stumble being captured on camera and shared widely online.
His reference to “buga or babaringa” humorously reflects the confusion surrounding the interpretation of his actions.
The incident, although momentary, has added a light-hearted touch to the commemoration of Democracy Day, highlighting Tinubu’s resilience and commitment to celebrating Nigeria’s democratic achievements.
As reactions continue to pour in, Tinubu’s response underscores his ability to blend humor with humility in addressing unexpected public moments, reinforcing his stance on the significance of democracy and its enduring values.
Tinubu’s recovery from the fall and his subsequent comments are expected to resonate within political circles and among the Nigerian public, shaping discussions beyond the initial incident to focus on broader themes of leadership and resilience in public life.