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Claim: A Facebook user shared a 3-minute clip of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi’s speech, suggesting that it was made when he was reappointed as Emir in May 2024.
Verdict: The claim is misleading. While the video is real, it does not represent any speech by the recently reappointed Emir of Kano.
Full Text
Sanusi Lamido has been controversial since 2020 when he was exiled as Emir in Kano State to the Loko Local Government Area of Nassarawa State. His banishment was based on a traditional allegation of “insubordination” to the Northern State of Kano authorities.
At the time of the incident, the government noted that the emir had to safeguard the sanctity, culture, tradition, religion, and prestige of the Kano emirate, accusing the emir of total disrespect to the governor’s office and other institutions.
While various conversations have occurred, the emir was reinstated to the throne on May 23, 2024, after four years of dismissal.
This new development came with claims. On May 23, 2024, the same day the emir was reinstated, a Facebook user with the account name “The Abidoye’s Corner” shared a 3-minute video of the emir. The caption attached to the video read: “Hm! This is a powerful speech from the Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.”
The clip had 319 views, two comments, and 19 likes at the time of viewing. Similar posts can be found here, here, here, here, and here.
The absence of recent similar videos prompted DUBAWA to initiate a fact-check.
Verification
Looking into the video, DUBAWA transcribed the emir’s speech:
“An announcement was made that I was removed for insubordination, and you would think that somebody who says that you are subordinate to him is superior to you. Like I said in Abuja, I have my record of service, my father has his record of service, and my grandfather. We cannot be intimidated by somebody because you are president or you’re a governor, and we cannot tell you that you’re wrong.”
Later in his speech, he continued: “If you’re not in politics, you must hold those in politics to account. It’s not a comfortable situation to be in, but believe me… We must get outside our comfort zone, and that is all that will change this country.”
We further split the footage into keyframes using the InVid video verifier. These keyframes were then subjected to a Google Reverse Image Search, revealing that the video has been online since 2022.
The longer version of the video was uploaded to YouTube by the news agency Channels Television on Aug. 8, 2022, titled: “Sanusi Slams FG On Economic Policies, Urges Youths To Save Nigeria.”
The clip circulating on social media was taken from the 16:00 mark of this longer video. In his speech, similar to the clip on Facebook, he urged Nigerians not to be intimidated by politicians, regardless of their positions.
Sanusi did not deliver the claimed “powerful speech” after his reinstatement as Emir of Kano, as stated on social media.
DUBAWA also found a video of the Emir’s first interview after he resumed his role as Emir of Kano. This video differs noticeably from the one shared by the Facebook user. There was nothing similar to the claims throughout Sanusi’s speech in the interview. See the full clip here.
Conclusion
DUBAWA’s research found the video to be misleading. The clip of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi criticising the Nigerian government was recorded in 2022, not after his reappointment as Emir of Kano in 2024.
The researcher produced this fact-check per the DUBAWA 2024 Kwame KariKari Fellowship, in partnership with Prime Progress, to facilitate the ethos of “truth” in journalism and enhance media literacy in the country.
