Ramaphosa Snubs Tinubu: Aide Defends Viral Video [WATCH]

Presidents Cyril Ramaphosa and Bola Tinubu

Aide defends a viral video showing Ramaphosa “ignoring” Tinubu, saying, “It wasn't time for greetings.”

Viral video sparks controversy: Ramaphosa 'ignores' Tinubu at inauguration, but aide defends interaction, citing protocol and a later warm exchange between the leaders.

Online controversy has been sparked by a widely shared video purporting to show South African President Cyril Ramaphosa ignoring President Bola Tinubu during his inauguration.

The social activist Aisha Yesufu shared the video on her X account on Wednesday, stating that Tinubu was once again a disgrace. Another X user commented that the president was “looking lost.”

In the video, dignitaries in the front row are seen shaking hands with Ramaphosa, who was sworn in for a second term.

Tinubu was seated in the second row alongside other dignitaries and Tanzanian President Samia Hassan.

Additionally, O'tega Ogra, Tinubu's senior special assistant for strategy, new media, and digital communications,

Not every dignitary in that row received a handshake from Ramaphosa right away.

Ramaphosa can be seen making his way to the second row in a different video that the South African president has released in order to speak with the leaders of state and government.

“It's great to have you here, President. We will speak later. Thank you so much,” the president of South Africa said to Tinubu.

Furthermore, according to O'tega Ogra, Tinubu's senior special assistant on digital communications, strategy, and new media, South African nobility was to sit in the first row for the inauguration.

Ogra added that Ramaphosa abruptly stopped when he was asked to return to his seat by the dignitaries because it was not anticipated that he would be greeting them at that point in the viral video.

Ogra added that Ramaphosa abruptly stopped when the compere invited him back to his seat because it was not anticipated that he would be meeting dignitaries in the viral video at that particular moment.

“Immediately after President Ramaphosa finished the anthem, he went ahead to greet the visiting presidents, who were all seated in the second row,” the aide said.

Yesufu was chastised by Ogra for her “hatred” of Nigeria and her “consistent display of crass ignorance.”