An image making the round on social media depicts Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in 2023, kneeling to greet President Bola Tinubu.
Social media users who posted the image claimed that Obi knelt to greet Tinubu during the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV in Rome, Italian capital.
On May 20, a Facebook user identified as Atu Lazarus posted the viral image with the caption: “Peter Obi has won my heart. He knelt down for my father. He should retrace his steps. He should join hands with Tinubu to fix Nigeria”.
Another Facebook user identified as Pankwaye Bulus Kanam posted the image with the caption: “Peter Obi was kneeling before President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the Vatican church. The Obi that was chanting and trying to form a coalition against the president”.
The picture was also posted here, here, and here.
BACKGROUND
The installation mass of Pope Leo XIV took place at Saint Peter’s Square in Vatican City, on May 18,
Leo was elected as the new leader of the Catholic Church on May 8, following the death of Pope Francis, his predecessor.
Many world leaders, including Tinubu, attended the installation mass.
At the installation mass, Tinubu met and exchanged greetings with Kayode Fayemi, former governor of Ekiti, and Obi, both staunch Catholics.
Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu’s special adviser on information and strategy, published a statement describing how Tinubu, Obi, and Fayemi exchanged pleasantries at the mass.
Onanuga had said Fayemi sighted the president where he sat with other leaders and asked Obi to follow him to “pay homage” to Tinubu.
“On getting to the President, Fayemi broke the ice between Obi and Tinubu. He said: ‘Mr. President, welcome to our church, and thank you for honouring the Pope with your presence.’ President Tinubu, ever quick-witted, responded, ‘I should be the one welcoming you and Peter. I’m the Head of the Nigerian Delegation.’ The President’s response cracked up Obi, who agreed with the President,” Onanuga published on X.
Onanuga also posted pictures of the interaction between the three men at the installation mass.
Obi also posted a statement that he exchanged greetings with Fayemi and Tinubu at the Pope’s inaugural mass.
Pictures and videos showing Tinubu alongside other Nigerian religious and political leaders surfaced on social media after the event.
The aftermath of the religious gathering sparked arguments between Tinubu and Obi’s supporters about the global standing of the two politicians.
Amid the debate, the viral picture appeared on social media.
VERIFICATION
A close look at the viral picture shows that it has been manipulated to fit the narrative. The figures in the viral picture were digitally imposed.
In the viral picture, the hands ascribed to Obi in the kneeling posture look like an attachment — an indication that the image has been digitally manipulated.
Further checks also revealed that the original image was published via X by Olusegun Dada, the president’s special assistant on social media, on May 18.
In the picture published by Dada, Tinubu could be seen sitting down alone at the front row seat while Fayemi and Obi were attempting to see the president.
A statement released by Valentine Obienyem, Obi’s media adviser, described the viral picture as “clearly photoshopped”.
VERDICT
The picture depicting Obi kneeling before Tinubu in Rome was photoshopped.
