A wave of controversy has trailed images circulating online that allegedly show President Bola Ahmed Tinubu meeting with Rwandan President Paul Kagame in Paris, after sharp-eyed observers questioned the authenticity of the photographs.
The images, which went viral on Sunday, were flagged for carrying a visible watermark linked to Grok — a generative artificial intelligence tool developed by Elon Musk’s company, xAI. The discovery immediately raised doubts about whether the photos were genuine or digitally created.
The reported meeting was initially announced by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who shared details on Facebook.
According to him, President Tinubu and President Kagame held a private lunch in the French capital, where discussions reportedly focused on global developments, Africa’s evolving role in international affairs, and long-term strategies for the continent’s growth.
President Tinubu also shared a post on his verified 𝕏 (formerly Twitter) account, stating that he had met privately with his Rwandan counterpart to exchange views on world affairs and Africa’s future.
The post was accompanied by one of the now-controversial images. The same photograph was later reposted by Dada Olusegun, the President’s Special Assistant on New Media.
Despite the public statements, neither Onanuga nor other officials from the presidency have addressed concerns surrounding the apparent use of an AI-generated image. The silence has fueled speculation online, with critics questioning whether the meeting took place as described or whether the imagery was used symbolically or for illustrative purposes.
Grok, the AI tool associated with the watermark on the image, is known for its ability to generate images and conduct real-time searches. It forms part of xAI’s expanding footprint in artificial intelligence development.
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As of the time of reporting, the presidency has yet to issue an official clarification regarding the authenticity of the images or the circumstances surrounding their publication.
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