A doctored image circulating on social media alleging that former President Olusegun Obasanjo prostrated for the Olubadan-in-waiting and ex-Oyo State governor, Rashidi Ladoja, has been debunked as fake.
Egalitarian voice reports that the photo, which gained traction on platforms such as Facebook, 𝕏 (formerly Twitter), and WhatsApp, claims to show Obasanjo prostrating before Ladoja during a recent courtesy visit to Ibadan, in anticipation of Ladoja’s expected installation as the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland.
Many of the posts sharing the image were captioned with phrases like “nobody knows tomorrow”, referencing Obasanjo’s controversial role in Ladoja’s impeachment as governor in 2006 during the Obasanjo-led PDP administration.
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“What a lesson in life! Former President Obasanjo by his power impeached Pa Ladoja then. Today former governor is the next king of Ibadan, now he paid him home visit and prostrated before the then governor that he impeached. Lesson. Power doesn’t last long,” one user posted on X.
Ladoja was elected governor in 2003, impeached in January 2006, and reinstated in December of the same year by a Supreme Court judgment. His term ended in 2007.
Fact Check: Signs Of Image Manipulation
However, a closer analysis of the trending image by The Cable reveals clear signs of digital manipulation. A breakdown of the photograph reveals that:
The neck region of the seated figure shows a mismatch between the body and the head, with the necklace not aligning properly, suggesting a Photoshop overlay.
The face of the prostrating figure is blurry and unrecognisable, bearing no resemblance to Obasanjo.
The left and right sides of the seated figure’s head show inconsistent lighting and proportions, pointing to a composite of two different individuals.
Further checks by fact-checkers revealed that the original image used for the doctored photo was sourced from the internet, particularly from Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde’s official Facebook post dated September 24, 2024.
The image was used in the governor’s tribute to Ladoja on his 80th birthday. The seated image of Ladoja was cropped and digitally inserted into another scene to manufacture the misleading narrative.
Another version of the image surfaced online with even more obvious signs of photo editing, further confirming the fabrication.
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There has been no public record or confirmation of any visit by Obasanjo to Ladoja in the aftermath of the death of the 43rd Olubadan, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, on July 7.
The narrative suggesting a symbolic reversal of political power between the two elder statesmen appears to be social media fiction driven by nostalgia and political sentiment.
Verdict: The viral image claiming that Obasanjo prostrated before Ladoja is photoshopped and misleading.
