Turkish officials were shocked Tinubu stumble made headlines in Nigeria – Abike Dabiri

The Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has revealed that Turkish officials were surprised and shocked that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s brief stumble during his official visit to Turkey became a major talking point in Nigerian media.

Dabiri-Erewa made this known on Wednesday, January 28, while responding to a post on X by a user, Oguntoye Opeyemi (Equityoyo), who criticised Nigerian media outlets for amplifying the incident.

According to the X user, not a single Turkish television station or newspaper reported the President’s accidental slip, describing it as a complete non-issue in Turkey, unlike the widespread attention it received back home.

Reacting, Dabiri-Erewa confirmed the claim, saying Turkish officials in Ankara found it “silly and mischievous” that the incident dominated Nigerian blogs and media platforms.

“Exactly. On ground here in Ankara, their officials were shocked to learn that it was an issue in Nigerian media/blogs,” she wrote.

She added that Turkish authorities were instead focused on the overall success of President Tinubu’s visit, noting that Turkish media coverage highlighted the strong diplomatic outcomes and bilateral engagements, not the stumble.

According to Dabiri-Erewa, one Turkish official reiterated that the visit was viewed as highly successful, stressing that the attention given to the slip in Nigeria did not reflect how the visit was perceived internationally.

The reaction has since reignited conversations online about media priorities, sensationalism, and national image, with many Nigerians questioning why minor moments often overshadow major diplomatic achievements.