A FACEBOOK post recently alleged that Nigerian political party leaders had declared Mozambique’s opposition leader, Venâncio Mondlane, persona non grata.
According to the post, this declaration was made during a meeting of the “Conference of National Chairmen of Political Parties” and accompanied by a petition to international organizations accusing Mondlane of fuelling post-election unrest in Mozambique.
The claim also stated that the petition blamed Mozambique’s President Filipe Nyusi for exacerbating the crisis by refusing to transfer power to President-elect Daniel Chapo. It alleged that Nyusi released prisoners to stoke violence and undermine the country’s democracy.
The post further claimed that Biafrans in Mozambique were being attacked because of the petition, with their businesses destroyed due to mistaken identity as Nigerians.
Given the sensitivity of these allegations, The Explainer conducted a fact-check to verify their authenticity.
No Independent Verification of the Claims
A search for corroborative reports revealed that the story was initially published by the Independent Newspaper on January 8. However, the publication later removed the article from its website without providing an explanation. Further searches through other credible media outlets yielded no evidence of similar reports. This raises significant doubts about the authenticity of the story.
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Lack of Details About the Alleged Meeting
The post referenced a meeting of the “Conference of National Chairmen of Political Parties,” claiming it involved Nigerian political leaders. However, it failed to provide details about where and when this conference took place, who organized it, or whether it was officially recognized. The absence of such specifics undermines the credibility of the claim.
Unverifiable Petition Details
The petition attributed to Nigerian political leaders named several individuals, including Chief Kenneth Udeze of the Action Alliance Party and Hon. Umar Muhammed of the YP Party. However, no official statements or documentation from these individuals or their parties have been made available to confirm their involvement. The petition’s recipients, including global entities like the African Union and the European Union, have not issued any acknowledgment of its existence.
Implausible Link to Attacks on Biafrans
The post’s assertion that “Biafrans” in Mozambique are being attacked due to this alleged petition is equally unverifiable. No credible evidence or reports from authorities in Mozambique or independent observers support claims of targeted violence against Biafrans. Furthermore, the claim that “Biafrans” in Mozambique are predominantly identified as Nigerians and are being victimized due to a petition involving Nigerian politicians lacks evidence.
Pulling Down of Original Report
The decision by the Independent Newspaper to remove the story from its website adds to the suspicion surrounding the claim. While no reason was provided for the removal, this action suggests potential concerns about the story’s validity or accuracy.
Verdict: No Evidence
Conclusion: The Explainer finds no credible evidence to support the claim that Nigerian political parties declared Mozambique’s opposition leader, Venâncio Mondlane, persona non grata.