President Bola Tinubu explained that his stumble at the Eagle Square during the Democracy Day celebration, which gained widespread attention on social media, was all part of the festivities.
During a Democracy Day banquet at the Presidential Villa, Mr. Tinubu amused the audience by attributing his fall to a Yoruba tradition of “prostration” in honor of democracy, causing laughter among the attendees.
Addressing the incident, Mr. Tinubu humorously stated, “Earlier today, I had a certain air of confidence, and it made waves on social media. People were unsure if I was doing the ‘Buga’ or ‘Babaringa’.”
Mr. Tinubu views June 12 as a day to commemorate democracy while paying his respects through a traditional Yoruba gesture known as “dobale,” which involves prostration as a sign of reverence towards elders.
The term “dobale” refers to the act of prostration, a gesture of respect commonly used in Yoruba culture.
Mr. Tinubu’s lighthearted take on the incident came shortly after his fall while attempting to ascend the parade vehicle during the earlier celebration on Wednesday.
In response to the incident, one of his media aides, Dada Olusegun, downplayed the stumble as a minor mishap, reassuring everyone that the President was unharmed.
The incident prompted various reactions from the Nigerian public, including comments from Mr. Tinubu’s political adversaries.
Peter Obi of the Labour Party expressed sympathy, stating, “I was saddened to hear about President Tinubu’s unfortunate fall today. I wish him a speedy recovery. It is unproductive to revel in an accident that could happen to any of us.” Conversely, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party took a jab at Mr. Tinubu, questioning his well-being.
