Abike Dabiri-Erewa, chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), says Turkish officials were “shocked” to learn that President Bola Tinubu’s stumble in Ankara, Turkey’s capital, became a major issue back home.
Tinubu stumbled on Tuesday during a welcome ceremony in Ankara as he walked alongside President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Officials quickly assisted the Nigerian leader and helped him regain his balance.
After the band rendered both countries’ anthems, there was a moment when the Turkish president used his hands to adjust Tinubu’s posture to properly face the band.
The stumble made headlines across Nigerian dailies, blogs, and social media.
In a post on X on Wednesday, Dabiri-Erewa, who was also in Ankara, said officials were “shocked to learn that it was an issue in Nigerian media/blogs.”
“One of them described it as ‘silly and mischievous’ and reiterated how their country was excited about the incredible success of the visit by @officialABAT, which is all over their media here,” she wrote.
However, Tinubu’s stumble also made Turkish news, including coverage by Anadolu Ajansı (AA), the state-run news agency that functions like a wire service.
“Nigerian President Tinubu fell at the welcoming ceremony at the Presidency,” Cumhuriyet, an independent Turkish newspaper, headlined its report.
The incident was also reported by Nefes and Yeniçağ, both Turkish outlets.
