The Presidency has cleared up the incident that occurred at the Inauguration of South African president, Cyril Ramaphosa.
A viral video emerged online, showing Ramaphosa purportedly ignoring president Bola Tinubu during his inauguration on Wednesday, causing a fireball of reactions.
Ramaphosa, who was sworn in for a second term, can be seen exchanging handshakes with dignitaries on the front row.
Social activist, Aisha Yesufu, posted the video on her X account and wrote that Tinubu was disgraced once again.
Tinubu was on the second row next to Samia Hassan, president of Tanzania, and other leaders.
Ramaphosa did not immediately offer a handshake to all the dignitaries in that row.
In a different video posted by the South African presidency, Ramaphosa is seen heading to the second row to interact with the heads of state and government.
O’tega Ogra, a Senior Special Assistant to Tinubu on Digital Communications, Strategy, and New Media, said the first row at the inauguration was reserved for South African royalty.
Ogra also said Ramaphosa was not expected to start greeting dignitaries at the time in the viral video, which is why he abruptly ended after being called back to his seat by the compere.
“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.
Ogra then went for Yesufu for her “consistent display of crass ignorance” and “hatred” for Nigeria.
