Clip of Nigeria’s deputy leader buying popcorn is old, unrelated to recent comments by opponent

Popular Nigerian online news blogging platform GistReel.Com tweeted the footage and the claim on June 5, 2022. The platform was previously a subject of a debunk by AFP Fact Check about a clip purportedly showing a groom confronting his bride over infidelity.

The tweet reads: “Vice President Yemi Osibanjo seen buying ice cream after Former Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima said nice people like him should be selling ice cream and popcorn." The video has been viewed nearly 7,000 times.

Image

Screenshot showing the false tweet, taken on June 9, 2022

The clip has also been circulated on other social networks by accounts with a history of publishing questionable claims (here and here).

Osinbajo’s hopes of succeeding incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari next year were cut short after he lost the primary election for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the former governor of Lagos state, Bola Ahmed Tinubu. 

Tinubu enjoyed the support of Shettima, who had described Osinbajo as a nice man in a television interview. Shettima added that such people who do not make good leaders should instead sell popcorn and ice cream.

Shettima’s comments sparked outrage but he has since apologised, saying his remark was taken out of context.

But in reality, while the footage on social media indeed shows Osinbajo receiving popcorn, it has nothing to do with Shettima’s remark.

AFP Fact Check conducted reverse image searches on keyframes of the clip and found the video’s source on Twitter. It was published by Osinbajo himself on December 21, 2018, when he visited Genesis Cinema in Abuja to see a movie with a group of young people.

“This evening, I am at the Genesis Cinema hoping to watch Chief Daddy with a few young Nigerians,” he tweeted. “This should be interesting.”

This evening, I am at the Genesis Cinema hoping to watch Chief Daddy with a few young Nigerians.

This should be interesting. pic.twitter.com/oQFAKYLjtC

— Prof Yemi Osinbajo (@ProfOsinbajo) December 21, 2018

Tinubu will face former vice president Atiku Abubakar of the main opposition party and other candidates in a difficult battle to succeed Buhari as president next year.