By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Correspondent
COCERNS OVER a brief stumble by President Bola Tinubu during a ceremonial reception in Türkiye have been addressed by the Nigerian Presidency, which said the incident was caused by a poorly laid surface and not by any health issue.
JKNewsMedia.com reports that the Presidency said Nigeria’s President stumbled momentarily during a march past organised for his reception at the parade ground in Ankara.
It explained that the incident occurred after the President stepped on a metal beneath a blue carpet at the venue.
In a press statement, presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga said the President immediately regained his balance and continued with the programme without interruption. He said the incident did not involve a fall.
“The president stepped on a metal on the floor, which made him lose his balance. This is not a big deal, except for those who want to make a mischief out of the fleeting incident. It was a mere stumble, thank God, not a fall,” Onanuga said.
It was also noted that President Tinubu remains hale and hearty and is fully engaged in official duties during the state visit.
Onanuga added that the President has resumed his scheduled activities and is holding bilateral talks with Turkish authorities.
The President is also expected to jointly address a press conference with his hosts following the bilateral meeting, the Presidency added.
Also, the incident was a minor physical slip and not a reflection of any underlying health concern, noting that the President is currently engaged in intensive diplomatic engagements, Onanuga emphasised.
Nigeria’s general public was then urged to disregard what it described as unfounded speculations about the President’s wellbeing, stressing that he remains in good health and high spirits throughout the visit, the Presidency stressed.
On Sunday, Onanuga said both countries would engage in strategic political and diplomatic discussions during the visit, with meetings involving high ranking officials and the signing of memoranda of understanding across several sectors.
