Close Shave As Aides, Others, Save Tinubu At Kaduna Lecture |The Source

By Adesina Soyooye

Perhaps it was his flowing gown. Or he was overwhelmed by the crowd and array of dignitaries. But Bola Tinubu, former Senator, former two time Governor of Lagos State, APC National Leader, was saved from falling down flat on the floor.

The incident happened on Saturday, March 27, on his arrival at the Arewa Hall, Kaduna, where he chaired the 2021 Sarduana Annual Memorial Lecture.

The high profile lecture series was instituted by Northern Nigeria, in honour of its first Premier in the first Republic, the revered Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sarduana of Sokoto. Along with Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, he was one of the founding fathers of Nigeria. Sarduana was, along with others, sadly, murdered during the ill- advised January 15, 1966 Coup plot, carried out by mainly middle-level Military officers.

The Coup was the first in Nigeria, and altered, to date, the history of Nigeria, as it was followed by what was called a revenge coup, and subsequently, the 30-month old Civil war.

To be the Chairman of the lecture is, usually, a big deal. Whoever nominated Tinubu as the Chairman for this year’s  did him a favour. It adds a notch to his profile, especially, as it is very strongly rumoured that he would run for the office of the President in 2023. He has neither denied nor accepted his interest in the office. But the Lecture was a good selling point for him.

However, his role at the Lecture was, almost, marred by the stumble incident.

As he walked into the hall, he tripped and, almost, hit the floor. He was quickly held and saved by his aides, and a couple of guests who jumped to his rescue.

Many said he missed a step, while others said he stepped  on his flowing gown.

Whatever, the Asiwaju has been upping his visibility in the North in recent times. Last week, he visited Katsina, the home State of President Muhammadu Buhari, to condole with traders who lost their wares in a market fire incident. He donated the sum of N50 million to them. The donation was received with mixed feelings by some  Yoruba groups. They accused him of donating to Katsina, and not to Lagos traders who had suffered losses in a couple of fire outbreaks, recently.

Tinubu’s donation, however, is a far cry from the unprecedented N500m donation made by Governor Nyesom Wike to Sokoto, recently, when there was a fire incident in a Sokoto market.