President Obonjo called for Trump's release

Dim-witted Trump supporters have confused comedy character President Obonjo with the genuine president of an African nation.

International news agency Reuters felt compelled to issue a ‘fact check’ clarification after prominent right-wing commentator Melissa Tate shared a video of the character calling on America ‘to release Donald Trump immediately’.

The former US President is already at liberty, but that didn’t stop Tate sharing the clip with her 530,000 followers on Twitter/X as if it was real. 

She captioned the clip: ‘African President expresses sadness of the loss of democracy in America following the Biden regime’s arrest of a former President & the disrespect of a mugshot. The world is watch[ing] the fall of America in amazement.’

Obonjo was created by stand-up Benjamin Bankole Bello as leader of the clearly fictional ‘Republic of Lafta’.

African President expresses sadness of the loss of democracy in America following the Biden regime’s arrest of a former President & the disrespect of a mugshot. The world is watch the fall of America in amazement. #FreeTrump #Trump2024 #BlacksForTrump pic.twitter.com/Uu2EkdRqm5

— Melissa Tate (@TheRightMelissa) August 26, 2023

After his video went viral he commented: ‘Woke up to find out I have blown up in America, a big push by Conservative Donald Trump supporters. Melissa Tate is huge in America.’

He also told blogger John Fleming: ‘Before I knew what was happening, there were about 60,000 retweets – some from black Trump supporters, some from people who don’t support Trump but think MAGA supporters are stupid…. it is hilarious. The comments are just comedy gold.’

One anti-Trump social media user even claimed that Obonjo was ‘an exiled dictator from Africa who now lives in Britain as a comedian. He was never a voice of democracy and ran out of his country. He was a brutal dictator that suppressed his people. No wonder he loves Donald Trump.’

When Bello threatened legal action over the allegation he was a ‘brutal dictator, the post was deleted. 

Bello added: ‘Unbelievable! People believe I am a real African president. It shows that social media has blurred the line between what is true and what is false Then there’s the racism. Confusing me with other black presidents in Africa. Crazy. Absolutely crazy.’

In his original post as Obonjo, Bello said: ‘Good day to you. My name is President Obonjo of the Lafta Republic. 

‘This message is to the American people. I shall make it very, very brief. My people have told me that Donald Trump was arrested yesterday. My people have told me that there is a mugshot of Donald Trump.

‘I genuinely do not understand what has happened to American democracy, that great country. The greatest risk to America is America. Donald Trump is a friend. And I urge the American government to release Donald Trump immediately. 

‘I do not in any shape or form, want to get involved in American politics. Like I said, most Americans will not know who I am. I am a president of an African country. And we have been protecting democracy for a long, long time. 

‘I'm not sure why Donald Trump has been arrested. I honestly do not understand what is actually happening in America. I generally weep for America, that great country, that great, great country that protects democracy, can’t seem  to protect its own democracy. 

‘What the American government is doing is making Donald Trump  a martyr. And I do genuinely believe that Trump will become the next president of America.

‘I do not want to offer any solutions to Biden, or to any other person who is involved in this. Words really fail me. It is sad to see Donald Trump arrested by the criminals in a mugshot all over the world. I want to repeat this message to the American people that I will be watching closely what happens to my friend.

The mugshot was released on August 24 after  Trump was booked at an Atlanta jail on charges relating to attempts to overturn his 2020 election defeat in Georgia.

Tate was previously suspended from Twitter for spreading Covid misinformation, but allowed back on to the platform after Elon Musk took over.

Published: 30 Aug 2023