'Seun Ibukun-Oni
DAILY COURIER - The occasional public stumble - a mishap that can befell even the most powerful of leaders! While presidents are often expected to maintain a dignified demeanor, they are not immune to the occasional trip or stumble in public. Who can forget the time former US President Gerald Ford tripped on the stairs of Air Force One, or when President George H.W. Bush fainted during a speech in Japan? More recently, President Joe Biden slipped on the stairs of Air Force One, prompting a flurry of concern from the press and the public.
But it's not just American presidents who have had their fair share of public stumbles. African leaders have also had their moments of clumsiness. Like the time former South African President Jacob Zuma tripped on a carpet and fell during a speech in 2015. Or when former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan slipped on a banana peel and fell in 2014. Ex- Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, has had his share of public stumbles, including a notable incident in 2019 when he tripped on the stairs of his plane.
In Ghana, former President John Dramani Mahama slipped and fell during a campaign rally in 2016, while in Kenya, former President Uhuru Kenyatta tripped on a wire and fell during a speech in 2017.
And the latest being the tripping over today by president Bola Ahmed Tinubu while mounting the vehicle to inspect the guard of honour and acknowledge cheers from the attendees.
While these moments can be embarrassing for the presidents involved, they also serve as a reminder that even the most powerful among us are not infallible. In fact, such moments can humanize our leaders and remind us that they are not above the occasional mishap. Moreover, how a president recovers from a public stumble can be just as important as the stumble itself. With grace, humor, and a dash of humility, a president can turn an embarrassing moment into an opportunity to connect with the public and show that even the highest office holders are not above a good laugh at their own expense.
So, the next time a president trips over in public, let us not be too quick to mock or criticize. Instead, let us remember that even the most powerful among us can have a clumsy moment - and that it's how we recover that truly matters.
*'Seun Ibukun-Oni is a journalist based in Abuja.*