Reno Omokri, the former aide to former president Goodluck Jonathan, in a statement on X on Sunday likens president Tinubu’s virtue to that of Christ while promising to serve humanity in his ambassadorial role.
This is coming after Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on Saturday forwarded 32 new ambassadorial nominees to the Senate, comprising 15 career diplomats and 17 non-career nominees.
Some of the names on the list includes former governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; immediate past chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu; ex-minister, Femi Fani-Kayode and ex-presidential aide, Reno Omokri as ambassadors
Omokri who had during 2023 presidential campaign affirmed that he can never work with Tinubu if he became a president has changed tune, claiming that: “The President has taught me the meaning of forgiveness and has helped me better understand what patriotism entails.
“In short, Christlikeness is demonstrated in him. He is the right man, at the right time, for the right job, and deserves the right hand of fellowship from all Nigerians.
“I am particularly grateful to the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his visionary and exemplary leadership. “the former aide praised
However, a longstanding critic of Omokri, former Mayor of Blanco, Texas, United States, Mike Arnold, who has repeatedly accused him of downplaying the persecution of Christians in Nigeria criticized President Bola Tinubu over the inclusion of Reno Omokri among the 32 additional ambassadorial nominees.
He described the appointments—particularly those of Omokri and former minister Femi Fani-Kayode—as “tone deaf”, alleging that the President prioritised loyalty over competence.
According to Arnold: “With his recently announced ambassadorial appointments, Tinubu again proves not only to be tone deaf, but deaf, dumb and blind. The world is watching. Appointing Omokri and FFK reveals that he values money-grubbing, boot-licking, genocide-denying sycophants who flip flop on issues of substance on command over those who show even a shred of competence or integrity.
“He’s further confirming himself to be a corrupt dictator who doesn’t care one bit about the unity of Nigeria or her everyday citizens.
“Even worse, what does this shameful tit-for-tat rewarding of slimy actors tell Nigerian children? It tells them that to advance in Nigeria today, the first step is to sell your soul and abandon any hint of honour. This is truly shameful.
“If anyone doubted that Nigeria is a disgraced, corrupt nation, today’s appointments prove it beyond a shadow of a doubt.”