The photograph, which rapidly gained traction across social media platforms, was posted on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s verified X (formerly Twitter) account to publicise a high-level meeting with Rwandan President Paul Kagame in Paris, France.

However, the image soon became the subject of controversy after online users observed that it carries a visible watermark from Grok, an artificial intelligence platform developed by Elon Musk’s xAI. The presence of the watermark has fuelled speculation that the photograph may have been generated or digitally modified using AI technology.

According to the presidency, President Tinubu held a private lunch meeting with President Kagame on Sunday, January 4, 2026, in Paris. The engagement was described as an opportunity for both leaders to exchange views on global developments and explore ways to further advance Africa’s interests.

Confirming the meeting, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, posted on Sunday: “President Bola Tinubu at a private lunch in Paris with the President of the Republic of Rwanda, Paul Kagame, discussing world affairs and advancing Africa. Sunday, January 4, 2026.”

Despite this official confirmation, the discovery of the Grok watermark has raised fresh concerns over the authenticity of the image released by the presidency. Questions have emerged over whether an AI-generated or AI-enhanced photograph was used to depict the diplomatic engagement.

Meanwhile the Presidency has come out to say the meeting actually heard but image was too poor and the photographer had to upload the picture to grok to make it clear. The Presidency also said the press should have confirmed first before making their reports.

The incident has reignited wider debates about transparency, digital manipulation, and the increasing role of artificial intelligence in official government communication, particularly at a period when public confidence in state institutions remains delicate.