President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has clarified that he did not fall on the parade ground during the Democracy Day celebration because he was old.
Nigeria’s president, who made the clarification during the Democracy Day Dinner, on Wednesday, June 12, said he was celebrating the democracy day.
Tinubu said it was important to clarify why he fell because youths on social media were wondering what led to the fall.
He said the youths of Nigeria were divided whether he fell due to the Babariga cloth he wore, or he was dancing to “Buga” dance by Kiss Daniel. He said none of the assumptions were the reason for his fall.
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Tinubu said it was greeting and showing respect to the audience. Yoruba young ones greet their elders, – the boy child – by lying flat on the floor – this is called Dobale. Tinubu said he did not fall but was doing Dobale in greeting and as show of respect to the audience who all gathered for the democracy day celebration.
He said, “Earlier this morning, I had a swagger and it is on social media, they are confused on whether I was doing buga or doing babariga.”
He added, “but it is a day to celebrate democracy while doing dobale for the day.
I am traditionally Yoruba boy I did my dobale.”
Meanwhile, the presidency has condemned mockery of the President for his fall on parade ground by Nigerian youths on social media, instead of sympathy.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to Tinubu on Information and Strategy, said Tinubu is not superhuman who cannot fall. He referenced world leaders, former and present, who fell during national programmes.
Onanuga said the President’s fall had nothing to the with his age but being human.
“President Tinubu is not a Superman. He is human like all of us. President Biden has had several slips in the last three years. Even the younger Barack Obama slipped while President. Political leaders are human. Slipping should not detract from the import of Democracy Day celebration,” Bayo said.
