Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, 72, stumbled and fell during an official event commemorating 25 years of democracy in Africa’s most populous nation. The incident, captured in a viral video seen by MMI, occurred as he ascended the steps of a vehicle meant to transport him around Eagle Square in the capital city of Abuja.
Security officers and aides quickly rushed to assist the president, helping him back to his feet. Despite the fall, President Tinubu continued with the day’s duties. Presidential Assistant Dada Olusegun described the incident as minor.
“Mr. President missed his step while climbing into the truck at the June 12 Democracy Day celebration and tripped. It was a mild misstep. He immediately went on with the ceremonial rounds. No issues,” Olusegun wrote on his X page.
Some Nigerians expressed sympathy for Tinubu, noting that such incidents can happen to anyone. “Not just President Tinubu, anyone alive can trip and fall; it happened to President Biden and Fidel Castro. Presidents are human beings and mortals,” they said.
However, the incident reignited concerns about Nigerian President Tinubu’s health, which his opponents had raised during the campaign for last year’s tightly contested election.
Democracy Day is a significant occasion in Nigeria, commemorating the restoration of democracy in 1999 after decades of military dictatorship.
