FACT-CHECK: Viral Claim That Atiku Will Give Side Chicks Same Rights as Wives Is FALSE
BY: Peter Emmanuel |
CLAIM
A viral image styled as a newspaper front page claims that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar said: “Side Chicks Are Human Beings Too, I Will Ensure They Have Same Rights As Legal Wives.”
FULL TEXT
In a viral post on Facebook, Festus Olanrewaju Ojo tagged “Another one is here” and shared an image carrying the headline: “BREAKING: Atiku: Side Chicks Are Human Beings Too, I Will Ensure They Have Same Rights As Legal Wives.”
The post had 155 likes, 56 comments and 15 reshares as of the time of this report.
The image was designed to resemble the front page of a newspaper identified as “The Daily Tribune.”
VERIFICATION
DNN FactCheck examined the viral image, the publication name, its masthead and the statement attributed to Atiku Abubakar.
The publication name on the image is inconsistent with the identity of the established Nigerian newspaper it appears to imitate. There is no Nigerian newspaper operating under the name “The Daily Tribune.” The established Nigerian newspaper is the Nigerian Tribune, published by African Newspapers of Nigeria Plc.
The Nigerian Tribune recently published a guide on how readers can identify its genuine front pages. The newspaper stated that its masthead contains identifiable features, including the “TRIBUNE” name, a Coat of Arms-like emblem and the inscription “SINCE 1949.” It also outlined specific arrangements for its masthead, ear-pieces, typography and overall front-page structure.
The viral image does not use the established Nigerian Tribune name. Instead, it carries the name “The Daily Tribune.” This means the publication presented on the graphic cannot be verified as a genuine Nigerian Tribune edition.
The founding year displayed on the viral image is also inconsistent with the history of the Nigerian Tribune. The graphic bears the inscription “SINCE 1951,” while the Nigerian Tribune records that its first edition was published on November 16, 1949.
The newspaper’s own guide also identifies “SINCE 1949” as one of the features readers should check when authenticating a Nigerian Tribune front page.
DNN FactCheck found no credible report, interview, speech, press statement, video or audio recording in which Atiku Abubakar made the statement attributed to him.
A review of publicly available information also found no corresponding statement on Atiku’s verified public communication channels supporting the claim that he promised to give “side chicks” the same rights as legal wives.
The purported headline therefore cannot be traced to a verifiable publication or original statement from Atiku.
The graphic also resembles a newspaper-style political image designed to present an unverified statement as though it had been published by a recognised newspaper. Without an authentic newspaper edition or an original source for the quotation, the claim cannot be established as genuine.
VERDICT
FALSE
WHAT WE FOUND
The viral image is a fabricated newspaper front page.
There is no Nigerian newspaper operating under the name “The Daily Tribune.” The established publication with the similar name is the Nigerian Tribune.
The graphic also displays “SINCE 1951,” whereas the Nigerian Tribune was established in 1949, with its first edition published on November 16, 1949.
The image does not therefore represent a genuine Nigerian Tribune front page.
DNN FactCheck also found no credible evidence that Atiku Abubakar made the statement attributed to him about giving “side chicks” the same rights as legal wives.
Conclusion
The claim that Atiku Abubakar said “Side Chicks Are Human Beings Too, I Will Ensure They Have Same Rights As Legal Wives” is FALSE.
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