President Obonjo fact checked by USA Today
USA Today has issued a fact check against a President Obonjo video, to help American internet users realise the comedy character is not real.
A creation of UK-based comedian Benjamin Bello, Obonjo is presented as the leader of the fictitious Lafta Republic. The particular video in question, published on TikTok at the end of January, sees the dictator react to Donald Trump's immigration policies by expelling all US citizens from Lafta Republic.
The clip has been repurposed on Instagram with a caption suggesting it was the president of Nigeria issuing the deportation order. The post features comments from a number of Instagram users who have believed the policy to be genuine.
Clues that the video is not from the real leader of Nigeria include the character mentioning Lafta Republic, and that the flag shown in the video is orange and black. However USA Today has still acted, posting an article that explains: "A Feb. 4 Instagram post shows a video of a man dressed in military attire delivering what appears to be an official response to the mass deportations marking the start of President Donald Trump's second term.
"'I have decided that I am giving American citizens in my country 24 hours of notice to pack their bags and leave my country immediately,' the man says at one point in the clip, which was first posted to TikTok.
"On-screen text included in the video reads, 'Nigerian president final decision to Americans'.
"That's not the president of Nigeria. That's a British comedian. There is no record of the real Nigerian leader - Bola Tinubu - making such a declaration."
Speaking to British Comedy Guide, Benjamin Bello says: "It shows how social media has blurred the lines between what is real and what is fiction or false. The world is in a state of confusion when my alter ego, a fictional character, creates a diplomatic incident."
Meanwhile the character of President Obonjo comments: "I am offended by the USA Today fact checking article. They did not even contact my office for me to respond, you can't trust legacy media using AI and western media propaganda to spread fake news that I am a British comedian."
Bello continue to post videos and perform live stand-up as the character. Further details can be found via presidentobonjo.com