GONE VIRAL: Group photo of Oritsejafor, Dokubo and ‘Yusuf, the Boko Haram founder’

You must have seen an old picture showing three men standing together ─ a man identified as Mohammed Yusuf, the founder of Boko Haram who was killed in 2009; Asari Dokubo, a former Niger Delta militant; and Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

The picture has gone viral, shared mainly by twitter, facebook and blackberry messenger, with different messages attached to it.

One superscription, in textspeak, read: “Take a look at dis pix & absolve Dokubo & Oritsejafor of any complicity in d BH (Boko Haram) biz. 4frm left is Mohammed yusuf (late BH leader), Asari Dokubo & Ayo O (CAN presido). Can any 1 tell me what could ever b d relationship btw a perceived man of God & 2 militants? Dis is a clear testimony dat there has been a lng time collabo & direct funding of the BH by those we believed are friends. Most of these pastors are evil, more terrible than Boko Haramists themselves.”

Another had a similar message: “From left is, boko haram leader, muhammed Yufus, militant Asari Dokubo, who is in detention in south africa for illegal Arm deal and the president criminal association of Nigeria, mr Ayo Oritsejafor in a group photograph after a meeting.”

Tongues have been wagging over the photograph, with many Nigerians incredulous that the CAN president would be in the same boat with Yusuf, even if Dokubo is excusable since both are supporters of President Goodluck Jonathan.

The seizure in South Africa of $9.3 million for a reported arms deal in an aircraft owned by Oritsejafor has fuelled speculation that there is a link between the pastor and the militants.

The opposition party, All Progressives Congress (APC), recently issued a statement that Dokubo was linked to the aircraft and the arms deal.

With this old picture subsequently surfacing, dots are now being connected with a theory: Dokubo and Orisejafor are supporters of Jonathan; money to buy arms was found in an aircraft belonging to Oritsejafor; Dokubo was in the aircraft; therefore, these guys are preparing for war in 2015 or something similar.

But what about the involvement of Yusuf? A bit confusing. Not that confusing. According to the theory, Jonathan is behind Boko Haram. After all, wasn’t it revealed just recently that a former chief of army staff was funding Boko Haram? Therefore, Jonathan, Yusuf, Oritsejafor and Dokubo are all working together.

However, there is a little snag in the theories…

The man in that picture is Rex Emojite Ekiugbo Anighoro, a close associate of Dokubo and spokesman of Niger Delta People Salvation Front (NDPSF), and not Mohammed Yusuf.

What’s more… the picture was taken in 2008 after a meeting on the proposed amnesty for Niger Delta militants by the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. Religious and community leaders were involved in the dialogue process. In fact, Oritsejafor was not the CAN president then!

What’s more… Dokubo is not in detention in South Africa over any arms deal. He was actually in Saudi Arabia performing the hajj when the picture went viral.

Conclusion: another internet spoof has fooled Nigerians…