By Abasi Ita
Former Cross River governorship candidate, Prof Sandy Onor, has denied the authenticity of a viral video circulating on social media, describing it as an AI manipulated creation intended to mislead the public.
Onor, who represented Cross River Central in the Ninth National Assembly, said the social media environment in Nigeria has become heavily polluted with misinformation. He warned the public to be cautious when consuming online content, especially material circulated on platforms that lack editorial standards.
Speaking in Calabar during a dinner held in honour of Prof David Imbua, who recently delivered the one hundred and fifty first inaugural lecture of the University of Calabar, Onor expressed concern that artificial intelligence tools have made it easier for mischievous individuals to produce convincing fake content. According to him, many of the videos trending about the recent incident at the National Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party were altered and should be dismissed.
He specifically denied a video suggesting he was slapped during the fracas, insisting that he had already left the party secretariat before the confrontation erupted.
“The social media space is deeply polluted. It can mislead, and it can also educate. With the rise of AI, people can fabricate anything,” he said. “I had already left the secretariat before the fight broke out, so that video should be ignored.”
Onor also commended the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, saying he deserves national support for what he described as the ongoing transformation of Abuja. He argued that no previous minister has delivered the level of development currently seen in the Federal Capital Territory.
Turning to the inaugural lecture, Onor celebrated Prof Imbua as a distinguished academic and longtime mentee. He said he was pleased to witness Imbua’s intellectual growth and contributions to the University of Calabar.
“I am proud of what he has become. Loyalty is not one sided. Just as followers owe loyalty to their leaders, leaders also owe loyalty to their followers,” Onor said.