Claim: The Sultan of Sokoto begged Governor Rochas Okorocha not to tell the world that the man in Aso Rock is an impostor.
Conclusion: Although we do not have empirical evidence that the president is or is not a double, the claim that the Sultan of Sokoto believes he is a double, is FALSE.
The rumour mill went into overdrive as the President was known to be seriously ill before he went abroad.
The rumour gained further impetus when the ban on political activities was lifted. Following the acrimony generated by the All Peoples Congress Primaries, many party big wigs like Governor Rochas Okorocha who felt aggrieved that their preferred candidates did not emerge as the governorship candidates of their states, threatened to work against their parties. Damaging political statements like claim above were credited to them.
The statement credited to Rochas, on the surface seems plausible, given the background of events. Rochas, for instance encouraged his preferred candidate, who is also his son-in-law and many of his followers to defect to another party.
When, therefore, the claim was attributed to Rochas by the online platform: www.ecocitytvews.com in November 2018, not a few people believed the claim.
A photograph of an emir and an unknown man, genuflecting to Okorocha, who sat on an upholstered chair, was cited as evidence. The unknown emir was said to be the Sultan of Sokoto, S’aadu Abubakar.
Verifying the claim
A close look at the photograph will reveal that the man in the photograph was not the Sultan.
Secondly, the Vice-President and even the President himself have addressed the issue of the so-called Jubril or ‘Buhari Double’.
The Jubril Al-Sudan issue is a product of the fertile imagination of the enemies of the President.
When contacted on the issue, the Sultan simply told the reporter: “Go and ask Rochas.”
Rochas’ chief press secretary, Sam onwuemeodo, simply snapped: “Please don’t ask me this kind of question. Settle with your source.”
Conclusion:
The claim is FALSE.