By: Philip Clement
Singer-songwriter Charles Chukwuemeka Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy has claimed that Peter Obi is the latest personality to make the Times Magazine cover page.
In a tweet, he also claimed that Obi was among only four Nigerians that have made it to the cover of the magazine.
“Only 4 Nigerians have ever made the front page of TIME Magazine: Gowon, Sade Adu, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and now Peter Obi. Peter no be una mate biko,” his tweet read.
The tweet has so far generated thousands of reactions on social media.
Verification
Fact Checkers at the CDD war room checked the claim and found it to be false. Former prime minister, Late Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa made the front cover of the magazine in 1960.
Also, Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, who was a Nigerian military officer, statesman, and politician also made the cover of the magazine in 1968, during the civil war. He served as the military governor of the Eastern Region of Nigeria in 1966 and led the Biafra nation to the 1967 to 1970 battle.
Similarly, the claim that Obi is the latest Nigerian to cover the Magazine is false. The latest Nigerian on Time Magazine is Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, DG of the World Trade Organisation, who was named one of the most influential people in the world in 2021.
Other Nigerians who have been named among the top 100 most influential people include Abubakar Shekau, Muhammadu Buhari, Oby Ezekwesili, and Chimamanda Adichie. A cover was not made for all of them.
Verdict
Both claims by Charly Boy are false; Obi is not on the latest cover of the Times Magazine. Yakubu Gowon, Sade Adu, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala are not the only Nigerians that have made it to the cover of the Magazine.
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