Fact-Checking the Tinubu Fall Controversy: How Turkish Media Actually Reported the Incident—and Why Nigerians Are Calling Out NIDCOM’s Abike Dabiri for Gaslighting
In the age of instant virality, where a single clip can travel continents in seconds, public officials are expected to speak with accuracy, restraint, and respect for verifiable facts. That expectation is exactly why Madam Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman and CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), is currently trending across Nigerian social media spaces—and not for the right reasons.
The controversy erupted after Madam Dabiri implied that Nigerians were being unpatriotic for circulating a viral video showing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu momentarily losing his balance and falling during an official visit to Turkey. Her core claim was simple but loaded: Turkish media did not report the incident, suggesting that Nigerians themselves amplified and weaponized the clip against their own country.
That claim, however, has now been widely debunked by documented evidence, verifiable online archives, reverse-image searches, and multiple Turkish news reports—both pro-government and opposition. The backlash that followed is not merely about a fall; it is about truth, accountability, and the dangerous consequences of official misinformation.
What Actually Happened in Turkey?
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was on an official diplomatic visit to Turkey, hosted by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. During a formal reception at the Turkish Presidential Complex, footage emerged showing President Tinubu briefly losing his footing while walking after the welcome ceremony.
It was not a dramatic incident. There were no injuries. The Nigerian presidency did not declare a medical emergency. In most countries, such moments are often treated as minor protocol mishaps. However, in the era of high-definition cameras and 24-hour news cycles, even small incidents can take on a life of their own.
And that is precisely what happened.
The False Claim: “Turkish Media Didn’t Report It”
Madam Abike Dabiri’s statement strongly suggested that the video was not reported by Turkish media and that Nigerians themselves were the primary drivers of its virality. This framing painted Nigerians—especially those who shared or discussed the video—as unpatriotic and malicious.
But a closer look at verifiable Turkish media records tells a completely different story.
Verified Evidence: Turkish Media DID Report the Incident
Contrary to the NIDCOM boss’s implication, multiple Turkish news organizations reported the fall, albeit with varying degrees of emphasis.
1. Nefes Gazetesi (Digital News Platform)
The incident initially gained traction after Nefes Gazetesi, a well-known Turkish digital news outlet, published a story with a strong and explicit headline:
> “Erdoğan’ın karşıladığı Nijerya Cumhurbaşkanı yere düştü…”
(“The Nigerian President welcomed by Erdoğan fell to the ground…”)
This report is widely acknowledged as the spark that triggered the viral spread of the footage. Although Nefes later deleted the article, digital footprints and screenshots remain, confirming its original publication.
2. Türkiye Gazetesi (Pro-Government National Newspaper)
Often aligned with the ruling establishment, Türkiye Gazetesi reported the incident in its international news section. While the tone was measured and non-sensational, the fall was clearly mentioned—disproving claims that pro-government outlets ignored it entirely.
3. Sözcü (Major Opposition Newspaper)
One of Turkey’s most influential opposition newspapers, Sözcü, also reported the incident. Sözcü is known for its critical editorial stance, making its coverage especially notable. The report acknowledged the fall as part of the official visit narrative.
4. BirGün (National News Platform)
BirGün, a respected national outlet, emphasized the moment more directly, describing how President Tinubu fell while moving toward the stairs after the welcome ceremony.
5. Gazete Pencere
Gazete Pencere provided a clear account:
> “Karşılamanın ardından iki lider içeri girmek üzere merdivenlere doğru ilerlerken Tinubu düştü.”
(“After the reception, as the two leaders moved toward the stairs to go inside, Tinubu fell.”)
This is not speculative commentary—it is straightforward reportage.
6. Karar Newspaper
Another established Turkish outlet, Karar, also mentioned the incident in its coverage of the bilateral meeting.
State and Mainstream Media: Subtle, But Present
Major Turkish media houses such as:
Anadolu Agency (State News Agency)
TRT Haber (State Broadcaster)
Hürriyet
Sabah
Milliyet
CNN Türk
did report on the visit itself, and while they did not sensationalize or foreground the fall, the footage was broadcast live and remains visible in official recordings.
Importantly, the video is still available on the Turkish President’s official social media pages, further undermining claims that the incident was hidden or suppressed.
Digital Evidence: Reverse Image Search Doesn’t Lie
A Google reverse image search confirms that the widely circulated image of President Tinubu on the floor originated from Turkish media sources, not Nigerian bloggers or activists.
Additionally, T24, a popular Turkish digital news platform, published and later deleted its report—again confirming that the story existed within Turkey’s media ecosystem before it crossed into Nigerian discourse.
Why It Wasn’t “Major News” in Turkey
One point needs balance and honesty:
The incident was not a top-tier national scandal in Turkey.
Why?
President Tinubu is a foreign leader.
The fall did not disrupt Turkish domestic politics.
There was no diplomatic fallout.
No injury or emergency followed.
As such, Turkish media treated it as a minor moment within a diplomatic visit, not a headline-dominating crisis. But “not emphasized” does not mean “not reported.”
This distinction is critical—and it is where the NIDCOM boss’s argument collapses.
The Real Issue: Gaslighting and Public Trust
Nigerians are not angry because the President fell.
They are angry because a senior government official attempted to rewrite verifiable reality and shift blame onto citizens for sharing information that was already public, foreign-sourced, and widely reported.
Calling Nigerians unpatriotic for engaging with factual content—especially when that content originated abroad—amounts to gaslighting.
Public trust erodes when officials:
Deny documented facts
Shame citizens for open discussion
Misrepresent easily verifiable information
In the digital era, such strategies backfire almost instantly.
A Pattern? Tinubu’s Previous Fall and Public Sensitivity
This controversy also reopened memories of Democracy Day, May 2024, when President Tinubu slipped while mounting a parade vehicle in Abuja. That incident, too, went viral and was widely discussed.
Rather than secrecy or denial, transparency and calm communication are usually the most effective tools in managing such moments.
Final Thoughts: Patriotism Is Not Silence
Patriotism does not mean pretending things didn’t happen.
Patriotism does not mean attacking citizens for discussing public events.
Patriotism certainly does not mean misinforming the public in defense of authority.
The facts are clear:
Turkish media reported the incident.
The viral footage originated from Turkey.
Nigerians did not fabricate the story.
Deletions do not erase digital truth.
If anything, this episode should serve as a reminder to public officials: credibility in the digital age depends on honesty, not narrative control.
And for Nigerians, the message is equally clear—asking questions and demanding accuracy is not unpatriotic. It is civic responsibility.
0 Comments