President Bola Tinubu’s political arch rival, Atiku Abubakar, appeared to have mocked the president while reacting to his fall on Wednesday.
Tinubu had climbed the waiting vehicle to review the parade at the Eagle Square where the 25th democracy day commemoration was taking place before tripping and falling frontally hitting his head on the inside part of the open vehicle.
The impact of the fall was so heavy that it left the president unconscious as his security aides rushed to stand him to his feet.
It left those at the Eagle Square in shock as a visibly shaken Tinubu, who put his official age at 72 gingerly steadied himself to be driven round the square.
Atiku, who was Tinubu’s fierce rival in the 2023 presidential election in which the former Lagos State Governor was adjudged the winner consigning him to the runner-up’s spot offered a word of sympathy but in a manner that is being seen as mocking the president.
In a message the former vice president to then President, Olusegun Obasanjo (1999 – 2007) shared on social media, Atiku wrote,
“I sincerely sympathise with President Bola Tinubu, over this unfortunate incident as he was set to review the parade on Democracy Day.
“I do hope that all is well with him,” Atiku said, attaching the video of the president’s fall.
Tinubu’s health was a subject of discussion during the 2023 presidential campaign with the Atiku side saying Tinubu was not healthy and strong enough to govern Nigeria.
The president exhibited several acts of health frailties and poor cognition, mixing names, dates and often shaking when holding the microphone.
Since taking over on May 29, he has travelled more than three times to France for treatments for undisclosed ailments.
But on Wednesday, the president brushed off the fall and adjusted himself to review the parade.
The president had earlier delivered a democracy day speech, extolling the virtues of MKO Abiola and urging Nigerians to be steadfast and not give up on the country amid unravelling economy, rising unemployment, deteriorating security situation and galloping inflation.