This scene was captured by Channels TV in brief, in which Mr Audu, who is from Kogi State and the son of the late Kogi State Governor Prince Abubakar Audu, dropped down to lay flat before shaking hands with the president.
The newly sworn-in minister of steel development, Shuaibu Audu on Monday prostrated before President Bola Tinubu shortly after he took his oath of office.
This scene was captured by Channels TV in brief, in which Mr Audu, who is from Kogi State and the son of the late Kogi State Governor Prince Abubakar Audu, dropped down to lay flat before shaking hands with the president.
The Minister of Steel Development, Shuaibu Audu prostrates before President Bola Tinubu moments after taking his oath of office. pic.twitter.com/GrABd8ADqZ
— Channels Television (@channelstv) August 21, 2023
Apart from Audu, another newly sworn-in minister (Tourism), Lola Ade-John was also captured kneeling before President Tinubu.
Newly sworn-in Minister of Tourism, Lola Ade-John kneels before President Bola Tinubu pic.twitter.com/89VbEztu7W — Channels Television (@channelstv) August 21, 2023
Nigerian politicians are often observed publicly prostrating in front of godfather figures.
In July 2021, SaharaReproters reported how the then-Senator representing Delta South Senatorial District in the Red Chamber of the National Assembly, Senator James Manager, was captured in a picture on his knees before a former Delta State Governor, Chief Onanefe James Ibori, most likely in his Oghara residence.
The senator in the picture appeared to be begging Ibori, who is an ex-convict.
Senator Manager was one of the candidates that Ijaw people were planning at the time to push to be the state governor in 2023.
Sheriff Oborevwori later emerged as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party for the election and eventually as the governor of the state.