Parade Ground Fall: Tinubu Describes Incident As ‘A Swagger’

-Says Democracy’s Worth Falling For’

-Says Govt’ll Only Pay Affordable Minimum Wage

President Bola Tinubu has described his missteps at the celebration of the nation’s 25th Democracy Day at the Eagle Square leading to his fall as a swagger, insisting that it was worth falling for democracy.

The President in his remarks at a dinner to commemorate the celebration at the Conference Centre of the Presidential Villa yesterday also told the organized Labour that government would only pay the minimum wage it could afford and sustain.

Commenting on his fall captured on live television which went viral, the President said “Early this morning ,I had a swagger and it is on the social media they are confused whether I was doing Buga or doing Babariga, But it is a day to celebrate democracy while doing Dobale(prostrating) for the day. I am traditionally Yoruba boy, I did my Dobale(Prostrating ) .

“Democracy (day) is a day that is worthy of falling for. It is a joy to see all of you here.

“I have heard excellent comments and the very touching remarks about myself and about the past,thank you.

My sincere gratitude to all of you is standing by me ,I promise you I wont fall.”

The President who recognized the presence of opposition governors including those of Akwa Ibom and  Abia as well as others in the ruling APC at the dinner, said “Everybody have forgotten the partisanship colour and embraced the green-white-green that depicts Nigeria. That is the value that we hold dear to ourselves; that is the baton, the reason that we say we will hand over a banner without stain to our children and grandchildren.”

Talking about the minimum wage, he said “minimum wage is going to be what Nigerians can afford , what you can afford and what I can afford. They asked you to cut your coat according to your size if you have size at all.”

The President also charged the leaders and elderly Nigerians to properly mentor their children and younger ones by inculcating in them sound moral values.

He promised to do all within his means to bring down the prices of food items hoping that the bandits would allow the farmers to access their farms in order to produce foods.

Tinubu also seized the opportunity to commend Customs officers in Kebbi and Ondo states “for rejecting millions of bribes by arresting those vandalizing rail tracks.”

“Citizenship is not just the dictionary meaning of it it is the actual character in us teach these ones to achieve it,” he concluded.

Others who spoke at the dinner giving accounts of events that led to the annulment of June 12 Presidential election by Gen. Ibrahim Babangida’s regime were Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, Chief Segun Osoba, Sen. Shehu Sanni, Dele Alake, amongst others.

Others at the dinner were the Senate President, Sen. Godswill Akpabio; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abass and other prominent members of the National Assembly.

Amb. Babagana Kingibe, Chief Bisi Akande, Chief Pius Akinyelure, Lawal Shuaibu and other prominent leaders were also at the dinner.