Claim: A message on WhatsApp, tagged ‘Forwarded many times’ and titled “REFLECTIONS on the man Nnamdi Kanu by Chimamanda Adichie” has gone viral on social media in Nigeria.
Highlighting Chimamanda Adichie’s name as the author of the piece is misleading. The piece was authored by another female Nigerian author, Gloria Ogo. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has also denied authoring the piece.
Full Text
Reactions have continued to trail the re-arrest of Nnamdi Kanu, the separatist leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) by the Nigerian government.
Nnamdi Kanu, who formed IPOB in 2014 to achieve the secession of the Southeast region from Nigeria and create a country known as the Republic of Biafra also hosts Biafra Radio. Nnamdi Kanu was facing trial for alleged treason before he jumped bail in 2017.
The armed wing of IPOB known has Eastern Security Network (ESN) has also been accused of terrorism for alleged crimes committed against the state. Mr. Kanu is back in court, and while the presiding judge has adjourned the case to July 26, many Nigerians have continued to present their arguments for and against the separatist leader in the mainstream media and on social media. Issues around the legality of his arrest and the legitimacy of his struggle are among the most discussed.
One of those who have come out strongly with their opinions is writer Gloria Ogo. Ms. Ogo published an over 40-paragraph position on her perspectives of the person of Nnamdi Kanu as well as his struggle on Facebook.
Gloria’s article was also published on TheEasterner with her name as the author.
Verification
Some unidentified persons however edited the title of the article and included the name of popular writer Chimamanda Adichie. They have been sharing this on WhatsApp.
Screenshot of the beginning of the viral message
Screenshot of the end of the WhatsApp message
They however forgot to edit out the part where Gloria mentioned her published book “In blood and War” from the piece. Chimamanda Adichie has not published any book with such titles.
Screenshot of the section of the article that mentions the author’s book
Gloria Ogo has also gone on Facebook to comment on the edited version of her writing that has Ms. Adichie’s name as the author.
A message has also been posted on Chimamanda Adichie’s Facebook account that she did not author the piece.
Conclusion
Editing Chimamanda Adichie’s name into the text as the author of the article is misleading. ‘REFLECTIONS on the man Nnamdi Kanu’ was written by Gloria Ogo.
Dubawa has noted that propagandists sometimes attach the names of high profile personalities to ideas they wish to promote to attract attention or give it credence.
