The now-deleted post, shared via his official X handle @officialABAT, stated that Parolin “received and graciously hosted [me] to dinner.” However, online users quickly pointed out that the person photographed with Tinubu was actually Cardinal Kevin Farrell.
President Bola Tinubu has deleted a social media post in which he claimed to have met Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State, following public backlash and fact-checking that proved the claim false.
The now-deleted post, shared via his official X handle @officialABAT, stated that Parolin “received and graciously hosted [me] to dinner.” However, online users quickly pointed out that the person photographed with Tinubu was actually Cardinal Kevin Farrell.
According to the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), the post had garnered over 855,000 views, 6,800 likes, 1,500 reposts, and 1,600 comments before it was removed. “FIJ fact-checked the president’s claim on Sunday and found conclusive evidence of the falsehood,” the report stated.
By Monday, the post was no longer available on Tinubu’s page.
Tinubu had also posted photos of his meeting with Pope Leo XIV on Sunday.
This incident adds to a pattern of misleading communications previously issued by the presidency through official channels.