President Bola Tinubu is facing fresh criticism online after videos showed him tripping and making an unclear remark at a campaign event in Akwa Ibom State on Friday.
The clips have reignited debate over his health and fitness to seek re-election in 2027, with some Nigerians calling on him to withdraw from the race.
In the videos circulating on social media, Tinubu is seen walking slowly with the support of aides. In one clip, he appears to stumble but is quickly steadied by those around him.
His speech also drew attention, particularly a jibe at the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi.
“You want to compare my brain with that of Peter Obi?” Tinubu asked.
He continued: “He (Obi) ran away from erosion in Anambra and now wants to be president, president of where? Lilikabu.”
The word “Lilikabu” could not be found in standard English dictionaries or through online searches by The Whistler. The Presidency had not clarified what the president meant as of the time of filing this report.
The incident comes days after a video from Tinubu’s campaign stop in Kaduna showed First Lady Oluremi Tinubu handing what appeared to be a white tablet to the president shortly before he addressed the crowd. The nature and purpose of the item were not independently established, but the clip fuelled speculation about his health and prompted some Nigerians to urge him to reconsider his re-election bid.
Friday’s events in Akwa Ibom have revived those conversations, with reactions sharply divided.
An X user, Okanumee, urged the president to step aside. “Tinubu should go and rest. If he refuses, God will force him to rest,” the user wrote, adding that Nigerians were the ones tolerating the situation.
Another user, Michael, drew a comparison with former US President Joe Biden’s decision to quit the 2024 race. “Even Joe Biden quit for someone else to run when he had falls like this,” he wrote. He called on the All Progressives Congress (APC) to field a fit candidate, adding, “We deserve better in this country.”
Simon David also asked Tinubu to step down, alleging that the president was seriously ill.
Not all reactions were critical. Another X user, Fidel Otuya, defended the president, arguing that his appearance should not be mistaken for a lack of capacity. “They misread Tinubu’s body language. He appears to be sick & tired, but there lies his strength,” he wrote.
Otuya also described the speech as one of Tinubu’s strongest attacks on the opposition, saying supporters of Atiku Abubakar and Obi would struggle to respond.
READ ALSO:
- How NSC DG Bukola Olopade and Chairman Shehu Dikko Scored Another First For Nigeria In Sports | By Michael Soyebo
- Upgrade Your Gadget Today, Pay Later with FirstEase
- Open A FirstBank Account Digitally, Anytime, Anywhere
- AFRIMA FOUNDER, MIKE DADA, JOINS AFRICAN COLLABORATIONS GROUP (ACG) ADVISORY BOARD
- Power supply to improve within 72 hours, says Tegbe
