Social media platforms have been buzzing with reactions from Nigerians after a video surfaced showing President Bola Tinubu slipping while boarding the presidential parade vehicle at Eagles Square in Abuja during the 2024 Democracy Day celebrations.
The incident occurred as the President approached the vehicle shortly after his arrival at the venue of the event. Despite momentarily losing his footing, President Tinubu swiftly regained his balance with the assistance of his security aides and proceeded with the scheduled proceedings.
While some netizens chose to downplay the incident, emphasizing the President’s resilience in quickly recovering from the slip and continuing with the ceremonial duties, others took to social media to mock the mishap.
@OlabisiLaw, posting under the handle Àràkunrin Olabisi, remarked, “It’s normal to fall. The most important thing was to rise again, which he firmly did. Nigeria will rise and be great again.”
However, not all reactions were as forgiving. @xfactum, writing anonymously on X.com, expressed cynicism, stating, “People are really looking for this man’s downfall.”
Similarly, @Maibitil_ on X criticized the incident, labeling it a “National Disgrace on National TV at Democracy Day,” while @dammygtnet urged for empathy, drawing parallels with similar incidents involving other world leaders.
Amidst concerns for the President’s well-being, some users focused on broader issues such as the state of the economy. @DrJHHyat expressed hope for President Tinubu’s health while also contemplating the economic implications.
However, amidst the varying opinions, calls for empathy were also echoed. @Andree22_00 urged compassion, emphasizing that such mishaps could happen to anyone, while @Harbihorla4 dismissed the incident as insignificant, attributing negative reactions to “Children of hate everywhere.”