Oshiomhole says viral private jet clip AI-generated
Former Governor of Edo State, now Senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, said the viral video showing a man bearing resemblance to him and caressing a woman’s foot aboard a private jet was AI-generated.
The video which went viral on Tuesday showed a warm moment between a man who looks like the Edo North Senator and a light-skinned lady whose right foot rested on his lap, with the man’s hand gently caressing the foot of the lady.
While netizens earlier speculated that the woman in the footage was Oshiomhole’s wife, Lara Fortes, it was later alleged that the lady was a South African lifestyle influencer and adult content creator who goes by the name Leshaan Dagama.
Oshiomhole in a statement on Tuesday issued by his media aide Oseni Momodu, debunked the video, stating that it was generated through Artificial Intelligence (AI) and not authentic.
The statement read in part: “The media office of His Excellency, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, has noted with dismay a poorly crafted and edited fake AI video of the outstanding Senator allegedly massaging the foot of a lady. We urge the public to jettison the false narrative circulating to blackmail the people’s Comrade.
“It is an awkward height of insensitivity by unguarded power seekers who hide under the use of false information and can go to any length in bringing down an innocent assumed enemy, which the amiable Senator is not. In fact, we urge members of the public and the media to disregard its purport comprehensively and in totality.”
The statement added that the video was doctored by malicious actors as an attack on the Senator’s reputation.
“The video was clearly doctored by malicious actors aimed at maligning the reputation of the amiable Senator. In the footage, the 30-second video published by SaharaReporters on its Facebook handle revealed intent, desperation and the decrying state of media reportage devoid of investigative professionalism.
“Close examination of the alleged clip, especially up till 0.6 seconds, where the lady walked through the airstairs, and the remaining 23 seconds of the alleged footage of Senator Oshiomhole significantly revealed disparity, glaringly suggesting a contraption”, it said.
The statement further urged the public to always verify online content adequately, while calling for social media regulations by the authorities.
“These antics, devised and manipulated by ‘obubuyeye’ content creators in the quest for online clicks and views to enhance the potential of their dollar-rating pay (via online apps), are not only novel to our media space, but are increasingly creating nuisance against Nigerians, especially the influencers such as Oshiomhole.
“This calls for urgent social media regulations by relevant authorities. While Adams Oshiomhole is not against any content creators, those who desire to earn a living through these newfound outlets should do so through legitimate means rather than engaging in egregious practice.”
Meanwhile, Ms Dagama, alleged to be the lady in the clip did not deny her appearance in the said video. On her Instagram story on Wednesday, she told netizens from Nigeria who were castigating her on her page to direct their grievances at their Senator, though she did not mention the name of any specific Senator.
“Your senator is the problem, go be mad at him, not me,” she wrote.
