Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar expressed sympathy towards President Bola Tinubu after the latter fell while boarding a vehicle at Eagle Square during Democracy Day celebrations.
The incident occurred on Wednesday morning when Tinubu, who had earlier delivered a nationwide broadcast, arrived at Eagle Square for the parade.
Unfortunately for the president, he missed a step and fell while attempting to enter the vehicle, but his aides quickly came to his aid and helped him back to his feet.
Reacting to this incident, Atiku expressed his concern and sent a message of sympathy to President Tinubu, saying, “I do hope that all is well with him.”
“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 on X.
However, many social media users interpret Atiku’s statement as a mockery of the president, with some claiming that his sympathy was not genuine.
Atiku had earlier berated the Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress (APC) for the nation’s economic woes, stating that the past nine years of the APC administration have brought hardship to the people.
He added that Nigerian democracy is not yet virile if it continually fails to deliver the promises of prosperity and liberty to the people.
“However, the past nine years has thrown up a regime of extreme hardship manifested in excruciating poverty and unprecedented levels of violence and insecurity upon our people. Sadly, the ruling All Progressives Congress is to blame for bringing forth this dawn of gloom,” Atiku’s statement read in part.
“But the opposition political parties are even more guilty than the ruling party for the seeming lack of capacity to come together and galvanise a coalition that will retire the ruling party and articulate a plan of good governance that will earn the conviction of Nigerians.”
Meanwhile, Bashir Ahmad, former presidential aide to Muhammadu Buhari, downplayed the incident, saying, “The President misstepped and got up immediately to continue his activities as planned. Those making a big deal out of this should know that everyone can misstep, whether they are old or young, healthy or not, and the presidents are no exception. Do we really have to politicise everything?”