FACT-CHECK: Did Governor Uba Sani describe El-Rufai as “Godsent” who assisted him with various needs, including property acquisitions and even against Peter Obi?
CLAIM: A viral video circulating across Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok claims that Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani said his predecessor, Nasir El-Rufai, was “Godsent” who assisted him with the acquisition of properties in Abuja and in a legal battle against Peter Obi.
The video carries an inscription that reads: “A history of friendship. Loyalty or betrayal? Watch how history brought El-Rufai, Uba Sani and Peter Obi together more than 20 years ago.”
Another caption asks: “Can this be AI-manipulated or a fact?…. Politics??? I can’t join them.”
In the footage, Governor Uba Sani is heard recounting how a person he referred to as “Mallam” came to his aid when he was struggling to secure a property investment in Maitama, Abuja. He is also heard mentioning a legal issue related to land allocation that led to a Supreme Court case involving Peter Obi.
BACKGROUND: The bond between Nasir El-Rufai and Uba Sani spans over two decades. Uba Sani served as a close political ally and adviser to El-Rufai during his tenure as Minister of the FCT, and later as Governor of Kaduna State. Their relationship grew so strong that El-Rufai openly backed Sani as his successor in 2023.
Recently, however, the once cordial relationship has faced strain, with both leaders trading accusations over the state’s finances. El-Rufai accused his successor of diverting local government funds, while Governor Sani countered that he inherited massive debts from El-Rufai’s administration. This fallout has created fertile ground for viral videos and online propaganda, often twisting past remarks to fit a narrative.
VERIFICATION: PRNigeria‘s fact-check traced the origin of the video to authenticate the claim.
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The video is an excerpt from the official handover ceremony of the Kaduna State Government’s Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) between the outgoing Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, and his successor, Uba Sani. The event took place on May 28, 2023, at the Council Chamber of Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, State House, Kaduna.
During his speech, Uba Sani praised El-Rufai, whom he consistently referred to as “Mallam,” describing him as a long-time mentor and “master.” Sani credited El-Rufai for teaching him about governance and recounted their history.
Specifically, Sani narrated how El-Rufai assisted him in acquiring multiple properties in Abuja. He recalled being a tenant in a two-bedroom flat in Jabi, Abuja, when El-Rufai helped him secure a property in the upscale Maitama district. Sani also mentioned that El-Rufai borrowed money from a bank on his behalf to facilitate the acquisition. He also spoke about a land allocation from El-Rufai that led to a legal dispute with Peter Obi, which went all the way to the Supreme Court.
Various media outlets widely covered some of the segments of Sani’s remarks on May 28, 2023. A report from Leadership newspaper and a post by Uba Sani on his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle from the same date corroborate the video’s content and its timing where he stated thus: “It is indeed a historic moment as my leader, my boss and elder brother, Governor Nasir El-Rufai performs the presentation of HANDOVER NOTES of the Kaduna State Government’s MDAs to me.”
To address the claims of “AI manipulation,” PRNigeria conducted a forensic analysis of the video’s audio and visuals.
- Visuals: A frame-by-frame analysis showed perfect synchronisation between Uba Sani’s lip movements and the audio. AI-generated deepfakes often exhibit subtle inconsistencies in this area.
- Audio: A spectrogram analysis revealed no anomalies such as digital stitching, tone modulation, or robotic echoes, which are common hallmarks of AI voice cloning or overlays.
- Context: Sani’s tone, pauses, and frequent use of “Mallam” are consistent with his established public speaking style. The presence of natural audience reactions and a continuous flow of background activity further confirms that the video was recorded in real time at a public event.
CONCLUSION: The viral video is an authentic recording of a public speech delivered by Governor Uba Sani on May 28, 2023. The claims that the footage is AI-generated are false. Sani’s remarks about El-Rufai’s assistance with property acquisition in Abuja and a legal issue involving Peter Obi are a matter of public record, made during a formal handover ceremony.
VERDICT: False. The video is not AI-generated. The claims made by Governor Uba Sani about former Governor El-Rufai’s assistance are authentic.
By PRNigeria
