By Ikeugonna Eleke
The Special Adviser to Mr Peter Obi, the Candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 Presidential Election, Mr Valentine Obienyem, has written President Bola Tinubu on the proposed appointment of former Presidential Aide, Reno Omokri, for a diplomatic position.
Obienyem who is also a public affairs analyst, in an open letter to Tinubu, urged him to reconsider any plans to nominate Mr. Reno Omokri as a Nigerian ambassador.
Part of the letter which was made available to journalists in Awka read: “Omokri has a public History stained with contradictions, immaturity, opportunism, and a pattern of betrayal.
“If Mr. Omokri’s name has been formally submitted or is under serious consideration, I respectfully urge Your Excellency to withdraw it.
“I write as a concerned Nigerian, one of many who closely follow the appointments and representations that shape our nation’s image abroad.
“Omokri once labelled the President, a drug addict and drug dealer, mocked him as someone who would govern Nigeria in pampers (diapers), and called for lab tests to determine the concentration of drugs in his system.
“He also accused you of looting Lagos State, describing you as a highway runner who stole 80% of Lagos and would replicate that at the national level.
“These are not isolated statements made in the heat of political debate – they are part of a consistent pattern of calculated, sustained character assassination,” Obienyem said.
The analyst who is also a lawyer, added several links copied from the social media handles of Omokri to buttress his claims.
He revealed that he had earlier communicated his reservations to the President of the Senate, urging the Red Chamber to decline any confirmation of Omokri’s nomination.
Obienyem also pointed to Omokri’s History of shifting allegiances. He recalled that Omokri once praised Mr. Peter Obi, calling him a paragon of virtue and the best man to lead Nigeria, only to later, turn against him and launch sustained personal attacks.
He argued that someone with such a track record could not be trusted with sensitive diplomatic responsibilities, noting that an ambassador must embody consistency, loyalty, and discretion.
“Can such a man, whose loyalties are as fickle as trending hashtags, be trusted with state secrets? What happens when, in a bid to curry favour or secure citizenship in his host country, he trades Nigeria’s interests for personal gain?”
Obienyem further warned that if such an appointment was made, concerned Nigerians, including himself, would ensure that Mr. Omokri’s controversial History was brought to the attention of the host country.
“Let this not be one of the many errors that define your presidency. Let the honour of representing Nigeria be reserved for those who have shown consistency, character, and clarity of purpose – not those who bend with every political wind.”
