Denge Josef Onoh, former South-East spokesman to President Bola Tinubu, has dismissed speculations about the President’s health following his brief slip during an official ceremony in Turkey, insisting the incident was a normal human occurrence.
Onoh, who is also the Chairman of the Forum of Former Members of the Enugu State House of Assembly, described claims by opposition figures linking the incident to ill health as “baseless propaganda” aimed at politicising a minor mishap.
President Tinubu had briefly stumbled on Tuesday during a ceremonial welcome in Ankara while on a state visit to Turkey, an incident that quickly sparked reactions across media platforms in Nigeria.
Reacting in a statement, Onoh said the stumble neither reflected the President’s health status nor detracted from the significance of the visit. He stressed that such incidents are common during high-level engagements, where leaders operate under intense public scrutiny in unfamiliar environments.
According to him, world leaders across history have experienced similar moments, citing former US President Gerald Ford, who fell while disembarking Air Force One in 1975, as well as incidents involving former Presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama. He also mentioned Chinese President Xi Jinping, late Cuban leader Fidel Castro, and former US Vice President Mike Pence as global figures who have had comparable experiences.
“These examples serve as reminders that even the most accomplished leaders are human and prone to occasional missteps,” Onoh said.
He further explained that officials close to the President attributed the slip to a poorly laid blue carpet that created an uneven surface at the venue.
“It was not health-related in any way. President Tinubu immediately regained his composure, received assistance and continued with his programme seamlessly,” he added.
Onoh noted that the incident did not disrupt the objectives of the visit, which include strengthening Nigeria-Turkey relations, boosting trade and investment, expanding defence cooperation, and exploring infrastructure development opportunities.
He said President Tinubu proceeded to hold scheduled bilateral meetings with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and other senior officials, demonstrating commitment to his duties.
Urging critics to focus on constructive engagement, Onoh called on opposition figures to offer policy alternatives rather than amplify fleeting incidents for political advantage.
He reaffirmed that President Tinubu remains in good health and fully focused on delivering his mandate, while encouraging Nigerians to prioritise unity, progress and national development.
VANGUARD