By Rita Enemuru, Just Back From Accra
CLAIM:
ON October 12, 2024, an X user, one @Onyeamama 2 of Igboland posted a video of a man having an argument with signs of violence with a woman in London with the caption: “This is the Ondo State governor in London, having a real brawl with a side chic! What a shame!☹️
https://x.com/ChinasaNworu/status/1845056438802014450?t=bonMOr-r8siujiYpoSQnMQ&s=08
“Men, honour Urselves! The real plan of the strange woman, spiritually and physically is to bring U down! Make thy loins tight! Keep thy prestige!
“A sitting Governor.”
Screenshot of the state CLAIM
The video garnered over 200k views with numerous reposts and comments in less than 15 hours after it was posted.
In the video, which has gone viral on social media platforms such Whatsapp, Facebook and X, the man, in black fez cap and medicated glasses, is seen speaking Yoruba angrily while a woman held on to his shirt at the chest region, while lying on the floor screaming and saying the man is a philanderer (womaniser).
Screenshot of the CLAIM
Another X user, one Chinasa Nworu also posted the video which has garnered over 80k views with the caption: “What a disgrace to Nigerians and her politicians, can you believe this is the Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, the APC Ondo State governor having a battle with a side chic in London.
“These are the type of individuals occupying most of the high level political positions in Nigeria. They have no self-respect.
“A governor that degenerates himself to such a manner deserves to resign from his position but that won’t happen because he is a Nigerian politician.”
Also, more than 10 Facebook users posted the video with some doing a reaction videos on it.
One Facebook user, identified as Dansea, reposted an earlier comment thus: “What a disgrace to Nigerians and her politicians, can you believe this is the Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa the APC Ondo State governor having a battle with a side chic in London.
“These are the type of individuals occupying most of the high level political positions in Nigeria.
“They have no self respect. A governor that degenerates himself to such a manner deserves to resign from his position but that won’t happen because he is a Nigerian politician.”
Another user, whose post has gathered over 15k views few hours after posting it, captured the video thus: Ondo State governor involved himself in show of sh@me in london with his family members.
VERIFICATION:
In the proces of verifying the video, your award-winning Stonix News discovered that though the man in the viral video looks much like the governor and the APC candidate of the forthcoming November 16 governorship election in Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, there were striking disparities in their features.
Dentition of the man in the viral video
A close and meticulous examination showed that the dentition and the nostrils of the man in the video were different from that of Gov Aiyedatiwa.
Check Aiyedatiwa’s dentition.
Similarly, different publications from different news websites like The Cable, Tori News and Sahara Reporters showed the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Ondo, Comrade Allen Sowore, debunking the claim.
Publications on refutations
In a post made on his official Facebook page, Comrade Sowore said that the circulation of the female abuser’s video was a propaganda taken too far.
The post reads: As preparations for the November 16th, 2024 Ondo State Governorship Election intensify, it is becoming evident that the incumbent Governor, His Excellency Lucky Aiyedatiwa, is gaining the upper hand. In response, opposition parties, particularly the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), seem willing to resort to any means, including blackmail, fake news, and falsehoods, to tarnish the Governor’s image.
“The latest tactic involves the circulation of a video showing an average age man engaged in a domestic scuffle with his spouse. The malicious intent behind sharing this scandalous clip is to damage the reputation of Governor Aiyedatiwa, who is also the APC candidate.
“For the benefit of the unsuspecting public who may be swayed by the video at first glance, it is crucial to clarify that the man in the video is not the Governor of Ondo State. A closer examination of the video reveals several striking differences:
“Facial Hair: Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa no longer wears that type of beard, unlike the individual in the clip. The Governor changed his appearance over a year ago.
“Diastema: The man in the video has a noticeable gap between his upper and lower teeth (diastema). Governor Aiyedatiwa does not have this feature.
“Voice: The man in the video speaks loudly, and his voice is distinctly different from Governor Aiyedatiwa’s vocal tone.
“More importantly, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has never worked in the United Kingdom at any point in his life, as implied in the conversation from the video.
“Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has an oval face while the individual in the video has a round face.
“The public is encouraged to carefully examine the video and notice these clear distinctions before arriving at the erroneous conclusion that the man in the video is Governor Aiyedatiwa.
“Finally, those responsible for circulating this misleading video and falsely attributing it to Governor Aiyedatiwa should conduct proper fact-checks and desist from such cheap blackmail.
“The members of the PDP, who have been circulating this video surreptitiously to paint the Governor in a bad light, should cease their efforts and focus instead on addressing their party’s own issues. Àwon alainikanse (jobless people).”
Comrade Sowore rebuttal
Further fact-checks revealed that Aiyedatiwa, as deputy governor to then Rotimi Akeredolu was in the news in 2023 for allegedly, physically, mentally and emotionally abusing his wife; allegations which he vehemently refuted by himself and through his aides at that time.
Governor Aiyedatiwa and his wife, Esther
The refutal was later ruptured by Oluwaseun Esther Aiyedatiwa, wife of the now governor, as published by The Street Journal on June 11, 2023.
She, indeed, affirmed that having been turned to a punching bag by her husband, she had to flee to the United Kingdom (UK) to avert further assaults.
She was quoted, in part, as saying: “They (children) implored me to have him arrested, but I explained that Nigerian culture does not provide room for such measures.
“I am not happy about revealing my personal struggles publicly. It is a painful reality I must confront. I have reached the conclusion that concerted efforts must be made to eradicate the scourge of violence against women.
“I have endured physical, emotional, and mental abuse from my husband-beatings, torture, and constant mistreatment.
“On December 1, 2022, during a minor argument, I experienced one of the most severe beatings of my life at the hands of my husband. I was left bruised and battered, to the extent that I could not attend the birthday ceremony of…. .”
VERDICT: While it may be true that Governor Aiyedatiwa has a history of domestic violence against his wife, Oluwaseun Esther, the viral video depicting him as being caught in a salacious brawl with a “side chic” (not his wife) and as someone who works in London, is not only mischievous, but misleading.
Suspectedly, too, the misleading viral video might have emanated from opponents of the governor, who doubles as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as a smear campaign ahead of the November 16 election in the state.
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