By Pascal Ibe
Claim
An X user, @GoziconC has posted a photo of MC Oluomo and Peter Obi together and claimed the former Anambra State governor paid homage to the new NURTW National President.
Verdict
This claim is MISLEADING. Findings showed that the MC Oluomo appeared alone during his inauguration in the original image by a reputable news organization and many social media platforms.
FUl Text
An X user, @GoziconC has posted a photo of MC Oluomo and Peter Obi together.
The X user shared the image and claimed Peter Obi paid homage to Oluomo.
@GoziconC also claimed that Mr Obi vowed to work with him(MC Oluomo) as the new NURTW National President.
The post by the X user has generated over 35k views, more than 300 likes, and 51 as of Tuesday afternoon.
Background
On 9th November, ex-Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Lagos State Chapter, Mr Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly called MC Oluomo, was elected the new National President of the union.
Akinsanya was the only candidate who stood the election which was held at the Union’s Zonal Secretariat located along Osogbo/Ikirun road.
Participants at the poll were delegates from the four South-West states of Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, and Ekiti.
The election, n, which took place during the Quadrennial Delegate Conference of the Unio,,n was monitored and observed by the acting National President of the group, Aliyu Issa-Ore.
Shortly after taking oath of office, Akinsanya who was flanked by associates and family members, called for peace and pledged commitment to pursue unity among members.
Verification
FACTWATCH cropped out the area showing Mr. Peter Obi in the photo and subjected the part showing MC Oluomo to a Google image reverse search. Results from the search indicated that it was only MC Oluomo was actually in the photo.
This Fact Checker learned that this photo of MC Oluomo was taken on 11th November 2024, when he assumed office as the new president of the National Union of Road Transport Workers.
You can view the original photo and video here and here.
No reputable news organization in Nigeria reported that Mr Obi attended that inauguration.
On X, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, shared photos of himself in attendance for the campaign of the Ondo State Labour Party governorship candidate, Hon. Sola Ebiseni, on the same day MC Oluomo was assumed office. This means that the former Anambra State governor wasn’t at the inauguration as claimed.
Conclusion
The X user, @GoziconC, intentionally photoshopped the image to mislead the public, as findings showed.
