The Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC) has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately withdraw the name of former presidential aide Reno Omokri from the list of ambassadorial nominees, citing what it described as a glaring contradiction and a failure of integrity checks.
The development follows reports suggesting that Omokri, alongside other political figures including Senator Shehu Sani and former governors Okezie Ikpeazu and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, is among those being considered for ambassadorial appointments by the Federal Government.
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In a statement issued Monday, the National President of the OYC, Comrade Igboayaka Igboayaka, condemned Omokri’s nomination, describing it as “an institutional endorsement of hypocrisy and political opportunism.”
He expressed disbelief over the clearance of Omokri by security agencies, insisting that his past remarks about President Tinubu should have disqualified him from such a sensitive national assignment.
“It is contradictory that somebody that distrusted the president is now deemed fit to become Nigeria’s ambassador,” Igboayaka stated.
He referenced a series of Facebook posts made by Omokri in December 2022, in which the nominee described President Tinubu as “a known drug lord, who belongs in jail, not Aso Rock.”
“Clearing Reno Omokri by security agents for ambassadorial post is an indication that his allegations against Bola Ahmed Tinubu is factual, because according to Reno, ‘Tinubu is a known drug lord,’” the statement read.
The OYC leader further questioned the credibility of the screening process and the oversight of intelligence agencies.
“If Nigeria’s security agencies cleared Reno to represent Nigeria, does it imply that Reno’s allegations of a drug-related issue involving Tinubu (have been) substantiated?” he queried.Nigerian cultural tours
Igboayaka cited another post dated December 17, 2022, in which Omokri claimed, “I went to Chicago myself and obtained verified documents. It will be a shame if this man gets anywhere close to Aso Rock.”
In the same post, Omokri added, “If anybody can get close enough to Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take a sample of his hair or urine, this election will be over! Because with his hair and urine sample, a laboratory can analyze if he still takes drugs and what type of drugs he takes.”
The OYC has now urged security agencies to “maintain their credibility (and) demand that Reno Omokri furnish them with the ‘verified drugs documents from Chicago’ which he asserted he acquired in 2022 and furnish the drug deal business to Nigerians.”
According to Igboayaka, Omokri has disqualified himself from holding any government position after making “unsavoury and unsubstantiated allegations” against the same administration he now seeks to serve.
“Reno Omokri’s criticism of the Nigerian government and certain politicians seems to be motivated by personal political gains rather than a commitment to strengthening democracy in Nigeria,” he added.
He warned the presidency to tread cautiously, noting that nominating Omokri sends the wrong message to Nigerians.
“The presidency should know that clearing of Reno Omokri implies and confirms the perception of Nigerians that the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration lacks integrity and credibility,” the statement concluded.