Senator Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole has made a U-turn on his former claim that viral ‘Private Jet Video’ that showed him massaging a South African Social Media influencer’s feet was an AI generated video, and now says he was on a private jet discussion on rebranding the image of Nigeria. Senator Oshiomhole — once a fiery labour leader and infamous former governor of Edo State — is once again at the centre of one of Nigeria’s most viral political controversies of 2026 after a short video showing him aboard a private jet with a South African influencer exploded across social media. Initially dismissing the footage as artificial intelligence (AI) generated, Oshiomole has now pivoted, claiming the encounter was part of discussions on a “rebranding campaign” to boost Nigeria’s image abroad.
In a detailed statement released on Friday, February 6, 2026, the senator described the viral clip as a “total misrepresentation,” asserting that he was engaged in a substantive conversation about a personal project with Leshaan Da Gama, a South African lifestyle influencer and adult content creator, to help counter negative narratives about Nigeria. According to Oshiomole, the initiative — which he says is self-funded — aims to “promote Nigeria’s image abroad” in the face of persistent international criticism.
Oshiomole’s explanation goes further, making what many observers consider an unorthodox defence: he described helping Da Gama with a foot cramp during their flight and dismissed the rest of the interaction as innocuous. The senator’s office had earlier claimed that the footage was a deepfake created to embarrass him — a defence that was immediately challenged online.
Leshaan Da Gama, the woman identified in the video, directly contradicted the AI narrative on her Instagram account, bluntly stating that the video wasn’t AI-generated. She urged Nigerians upset by the clip to redirect their anger toward the senator rather than her, writing: “Your senator is the problem; go be mad at him, not me.” Her post ignited a fresh wave of debate and scepticism of the senator’s version of events.
Public Outrage and Broader Backlash
The controversy has tapped into a broader frustration among Nigerians around elite privilege, especially in the midst of ongoing economic hardship. Many social media users contrasted the image of a senator aboard a private jet with day-to-day struggles faced by ordinary citizens, including rising living costs and fuel subsidy removals. Human rights activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore lambasted Oshiomole’s remarks, accusing political elites of living “in a different economic universe” and “subsidising their own luxuries while the poor pay the price.”
Critics also seized on the timing and tone of Oshiomole’s rebranding explanation, questioning the ethical judgment of a public official invoking an influencer partnership to defend against allegations of impropriety captured on video. Some commentators further argued that the senator’s shifting narratives — from calling the clip fake to framing it as legitimate but expedient for a diplomatic project — only fuelled public scepticism.
What This Means for Oshiomole
The episode has moved beyond the specifics of the video itself. For many Nigerians, it underscores long-standing concerns about political accountability, the optics of privilege, and how leaders handle crises in the era of viral digital media. Whether viewed as an AI deflection, a PR initiative, or a symbol of political detachment, the viral jet incident has become a cultural flashpoint — one that continues to reverberate across platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and TikTok.
While Oshiomole has not yet responded to Da Gama’s statements directly, the gap between his official narrative and social media reality shows no sign of closing — and Nigerians are watching closely.
