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Nigerian presidential rival Atiku watching Buhari inauguration on TV? Photo is fake

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari’s second term inauguration was held in Abuja, the capital, on 29 May 2019.

Soon after, some of the president’s supporters shared a photo of Atiku Abubakar, the unsuccessful candidate in the 2019 presidential election, claiming it showed him watching the inauguration at home on TV.

The photo has circulated on Facebook and other social media with comments in various shades of mockery.

One post was shared by over 4,000 Facebook users in under 19 hours.

Atiku watched Buhari's Inauguration,” the post reads. Baba Atiku Yasha Kallo Yau.” That’s Hausa for: “Baba Atiku has been left watching today.”

Abubakar, a former vice president, was the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party. He is still in court contesting the outcome of the election.  


 

Manipulated photo from African Nations football final


A Google reverse image search shows that the photo has been manipulated. The original dates back to February 2018.

The unaltered photo was first published online when Abubakar himself tweeted it on 4 February 2018 during the African Nations Championship football final between Nigeria’s Super Eagles, the national team, and Morocco.

The photo shows the politician and others watching the match on TV, in what looks like his sitting room.

The tweet reads: “I am ready and trust that you are too to give @NGSuperEagles our unflinching support. #TotalCHAN2018 #MARNGA.”
 

‘Those who mislead Nigerians’


In the photoshopped image, the football match on the TV screen has been replaced with a scene from the inauguration.

A few online news outlets published the manipulated photo, quoting a tweet by Buhari aide Lauretta Onochie.

“Congratulations Nigerians. They said it will never come to pass. They watched it Live on TV! A day that would have been their day too as Nigerians & leaders of d opposition, they sat at home nursing & hugging bitterness, envy, jealousy & high blood pressure. Nigeria has moved on,” Onochie reportedly tweeted on 30 May 2019.

She then deleted the tweet.

In a subsequent tweet Onochie showed the original and manipulated images, saying: “There has to be a way to hold to account, those who mislead Nigerians. Same platform, same real and photoshopped image.” – Allwell Okpi (31/05/2019)
 


 

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