A former Southeast Spokesman to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Denge Josef Onoh, has dismissed concerns raised by opposition figures following a brief slip involving the President during an official engagement in Turkey, insisting that the incident has nothing to do with Tinubu’s health.
Onoh, who is also the Chairman of the Forum of Former Members of the Enugu State House of Assembly, described the reactions trailing the incident as baseless and politically motivated. He accused opposition politicians of exploiting a minor and harmless occurrence to push what he termed propaganda against the President.
President Tinubu reportedly slipped briefly on Tuesday during a ceremonial welcome in Ankara, Turkey, an incident that quickly attracted attention across Nigerian media and social platforms. The moment, which lasted only seconds, sparked speculation and commentary about the President’s physical condition.
Reacting to the development, Onoh said the brief stumble was a normal human occurrence that should not be exaggerated or misinterpreted. He stressed that the incident neither reflected any health challenge nor diminished the significance of the President’s state visit to Turkey.
According to Onoh, high-level official engagements often expose leaders to unpredictable situations. He explained that world leaders routinely navigate unfamiliar venues, ceremonial arrangements, and demanding schedules, all under intense public scrutiny.
He noted that such environments increase the likelihood of minor mishaps, which should not automatically be linked to health concerns. Onoh said occasional missteps are inevitable, regardless of a leader’s status or physical fitness.
To support his position, Onoh cited several historical examples involving prominent global leaders. He recalled that former United States President Gerald Ford famously fell down the steps of Air Force One during a visit to Austria in 1975.
He also referenced incidents involving former U.S. President Joe Biden, who tripped while boarding the aircraft stairs in 2021, as well as former President Barack Obama, who briefly stumbled while disembarking from Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base in 2015.
Onoh further mentioned similar occurrences involving Chinese President Xi Jinping, former Cuban leader Fidel Castro, who fell from a stage in 2004, and former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence. According to him, none of these incidents were interpreted as indicators of serious health problems.
“These examples serve as reminders that even the most accomplished leaders are human and prone to occasional missteps,” Onoh said. He added that such moments should not overshadow the substance of leadership or the responsibilities being discharged.
Addressing the cause of President Tinubu’s slip, Onoh referred to explanations provided by members of the President’s team. He said the incident was attributed to a poorly laid blue carpet at the venue, which created an uneven walking surface.
According to him, the stumble was not health-related in any way. He noted that President Tinubu immediately regained his balance, received brief assistance, and continued with the programme without disruption.
Onoh stressed that the incident had no impact on the objectives of the visit. He said the state visit to Turkey was focused on strengthening bilateral relations between Nigeria and Turkey, particularly in areas of trade, investment, defence cooperation, and infrastructure development.
He added that President Tinubu went on to hold scheduled bilateral meetings with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and other senior Turkish officials. According to Onoh, the successful completion of these engagements demonstrated the President’s resilience and commitment to national duties.
He said the President’s ability to proceed seamlessly with his schedule showed that the brief slip was insignificant and should not distract from the outcomes of the visit.
Onoh stated that leadership often requires personal sacrifice and endurance. He said that in the service of Nigeria, any minor personal discomfort a leader experiences is worthwhile if it advances the national interest.
He urged opposition politicians to redirect their energy toward offering constructive ideas and credible policy alternatives instead of amplifying fleeting incidents for political advantage.
According to him, Nigeria’s progress depends on responsible political engagement rather than the politicisation of trivial moments.
Onoh reaffirmed that President Tinubu remains in good health and fully committed to delivering on his mandate. He called on Nigerians to focus on unity, development, and shared national prosperity rather than distractions that do not contribute to nation-building.
He concluded by urging the public to judge leaders by their actions and policies, not by isolated incidents that have no bearing on their capacity to govern.
