The Kano State Government, has sought clarification from Arise News over the circulation of a video showing Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf waving to commuters along a road in the state, describing the footage as archival material recorded more than a year ago.
The Independent Mirror reports that, in a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Social Media, Ibrahim Adam, said the footage was recorded on April 16, 2025, when Governor Yusuf stopped to inspect the ongoing reconstruction of Lodge Road to Daula Hotel Roundabout shortly after returning from Morocco.
The government said its concern was not the Governor’s interaction with members of the public but the timing and manner in which the footage was presented, which it said could give viewers the impression that it was recent.
According to the statement, responsible journalism requires archival materials to be presented with sufficient context to avoid misleading the public.
The government therefore asked Arise News to clarify why the footage resurfaced at the time it did, whether it was broadcast in its original and complete form or edited, and the editorial basis for any such editing.
It also questioned why the original date and circumstances surrounding the recording were not clearly communicated to viewers.
The statement stressed that the Governor waving to citizens should not be interpreted as evidence of wrongdoing, describing it as ordinary public engagement.
“Journalism’s responsibility goes beyond publishing images; it requires ensuring they don’t create an impression materially different from the circumstances in which they were recorded,” the statement said.
The Kano State Government urged Arise News to clarify the date, source and editorial treatment of the footage, stressing that the public deserves accurate and properly contextualised reporting.
