At the Democracy Day dinner held on Wednesday, June 12, 2024, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu addressed a viral video circulating on social media where he was seen missing his steps and tripping. In a lighthearted tone, Tinubu joked that he was merely performing a traditional Yoruba gesture of respect known as "dobale."“Early this morning, I had a swagger and it is on social media. They are confused on whether I was doing Buga or doing Babariga but it is a day to celebrate democracy while doing ‘dobale’ for the day. I am a traditional Yoruba boy and I did my Dobale,” Tinubu quipped, drawing laughter from the audience.Beyond the humorous reference, President Tinubu used the occasion to underscore the importance of national orientation and collective effort in fostering a prosperous future for Nigeria. He emphasized the country’s diversity as a strength and called for investments in national orientation to build a sense of service and patriotism among citizens.“Nigeria is blessed, our complexity, our diversity is there, but is the best road to success. Whatever we have to invest in our national orientation, we have to do it,” Tinubu declared.The president also highlighted the role of the national anthem in encapsulating the essence of service, which he sees being practiced by many governors across the country. He expressed his gratitude to the governors for their dedication to serving their people, regardless of political affiliations.“We include in our national anthem, the essence of service. I have seen many governors, both live and on TV, serving their people. They belong to other parties and many of them are here tonight. Thank you, Governor Eno of Akwa Ibom, thank you Governor Okpara, my comrade from Kaduna, thank you, Sheriff and Abia, thank you. If I miss you, forgive me. Everybody has forgotten the partisanship column and embraced that green, white, green that depicts Nigeria,” Tinubu said.Acknowledging criticisms of the national anthem, Tinubu called on governors to redouble their efforts in fostering a sense of duty and national character among citizens.“Citizenship is not just the dictionary meaning of it, it is the actual character. Let us teach this to our children, so that Nigeria collectively, we will do the job that we are called upon to do as both family or nation under God almighty,” Tinubu urged.As Nigeria celebrates Democracy Day, President Tinubu’s remarks serve as a reminder of the nation's shared values and the importance of unity in diversity for achieving collective progress.
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