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Claim: A popular Instagram blog, Kraks TV, alleged that former Anambra governor and presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, joined the #EndBadGovernance protest in Abuja on Aug 1.
Verdict: Misleading! The video depicting Mr Obi’s participation in the protest is an old footage posted on TikTok on June 27. Also, Mr Obi distanced himself from the protest and clarified that he was at his residence in Onitsha, Anambra state, when the protest commenced.
Full Text
Nigerians are currently on the streets expressing their grievances against certain policies implemented by President Bola Tinubu-led administration and the harsh economic realities in the country.
The protest, tagged #EndBadGovernance, started yesterday, Aug 1, and is slated to last till Aug 10, 2024, according to the organisers.
While the organisers have distanced themselves from affiliations with political parties, some claim that opposition figures, particularly those who lost in the 2023 presidential elections, sponsored the protest.
Prior to the protest, Bayo Onanuga, the presidential spokesperson, linked Mr Obi to it and accused the ex-governor of calling for anarchy. However, Mr Obi had been discreet in his comments regarding the planned protest.
However, in a new development, a video circulated on social media, showing Mr Obi among many people suggesting his participation in the protest. The video and narrative were shared here.
In the clip, he heard saying, “Everybody is one…nobody here is more important than the other. We are all children of God. We want the country to work, not by dividing ourselves.”
Due to the issue’s sensitivity, DUBAWA investigated the claim to ascertain its veracity.
Verification
The video was traced back to a post made on TikTok on June 27, 2024, by a user, multiple Lines Travel and Tour, weeks before the protest commenced.
Also, the former governor made a post on his X handle in the early hours of today, August 2, to state that he was never on any protest ground. He explained that the video was taken during his visit to the Labour Party Headquarters, where he intervened in a clash between the Labour Party and the NLC.
Similarly, in an interview with Arise TV on Friday morning, Mr Obi noted he had been in Onitsha, Anambra state, since Wednesday, July 31, and had not gone to partake in protest in any location.
“As you can see, I’m here in Onitsha. There’s no way I’ll be in Onitsha and Abuja simultaneously…”
Conclusion
The viral video showing Mr Obi at a protest ground is misleading. The video was taken weeks before the protest.
