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CLAIM: A Facebook user, Steve Bayode, shared an image claiming that former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi was kneeling before Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, during Pope Leo’s inauguration at the Vatican.
VERDICT: False. The original image shows President Tinubu sitting alone in the chair. Peter Obi was digitally inserted into the image.
Full Text
Pope Leo’s inauguration at the Vatican on Sunday, May 18, 2025, brought together world leaders, including the president of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu.
Following the inauguration, a Facebook user, Steve Bayode (archived link here), shared an image claiming that the former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, was captured kneeling before President Tinubu. In the photo, Obi is seen on his knees with his hands placed on Tinubu’s lap, engaging in conversation.
The image was captioned, “Imagine Obi’s smile after meeting Tinubu.”
Similarly, another user, Rikwense Muri (archived link here) shared the same image with the caption: “Even Peter Obi is kneeling before the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Mandate, you are there on social media making noise and insulting Peter Obi’s President. I love Peter Obi’s humility and Tinubu’s capacity. Tinubu 4+4.”
The image also surfaced on Instagram here and on X with similar captions.
DUBAWA decided to fact-check the claim due to its virality, political undertone and the prominent public figures involved.
Verification
DUBAWA traced the image of President Bola Tinubu, featured in the misleading post, to several news articles (archived here), confirming it had been altered.
DUBAWA carefully compared elements in the doctored image to the original photo. In both, Tinubu is seen wearing the same outfit as Peter Obi, which clearly indicates that the image was manipulated.
In the original image, Tinubu is seated while Fayose and Obi are in line approaching him, with Seyi Tinubu, his son, standing directly in front of him.
In the manipulated version, Seyi Tinubu was removed. Peter Obi was repositioned to kneel in front of Tinubu, appearing to engage him in conversation while holding a booklet or pamphlet. Although the background remains unchanged, the individuals in the queue have been altered to misrepresent the interaction.
The original image of the president standing up to exchange pleasantries with Peter Obi was posted on the X handle of presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga (aonanuga1956). It shows Peter Obi, former Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi, President Tinubu, and Tinubu’s son, Seyi, exchanging pleasantries.
At no point in the original photo is Peter Obi kneeling in the way the manipulated image suggests.
Conclusion
The viral image has been digitally altered and is photoshopped.
And sycophants like Reno are busy posting it across their timelines.