NIGERIA: From Critic To Ally: Reno Omokri Explains His Shift In Support For Tinubu

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria

In a surprising political turn, social media influencer and former presidential aide, Reno Omokri, has defended his transformation from a staunch critic of President Bola Tinubu to a vocal supporter.

His shift, he insists, is rooted in newfound evidence and a trusted personal connection.

Omokri, who once questioned Tinubu’s academic credentials and alleged drug links, now asserts that fresh discoveries have altered his perspective.

Speaking on Breakfast Central on Thursday, he acknowledged that many Nigerians have short memories when it comes to political discourse.

“Well, if you look back into history, a lot of Nigerians are not meticulous when it comes to keepers, and as a country, we have a very short memory,” he said.

His initial skepticism was fueled by doubts over Tinubu’s academic records.

However, a personal investigation in September 2022 led him to Chicago State University, where he claims to have obtained “inconsiderable evidence” confirming Tinubu’s graduation.

“I met with individuals there; I was given inconsiderable evidence that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu attended, passed his exams, and graduated from Chicago State University,” Omokri explained.

Following this revelation, he publicly retracted his earlier claims and urged others to abandon what he now considers misinformation.

While Omokri remained critical of Tinubu’s alleged drug-related past, a Supreme Court ruling further influenced his reassessment.

“The Supreme Court decision…said that they’ve looked into the drug issue and he was not a drug convict; it was not even a conviction against him; it was a conviction against another person, and he was involved only to the extent that he was an accountant for that person,” he stated.

With the highest court clearing Tinubu of criminal involvement, Omokri felt compelled to drop his objections. “I had to make a decision that since he had been exonerated by the court, I cannot continue to criticize him on that issue,” he admitted.

Omokri’s transformation wasn’t solely driven by legal rulings.

A pivotal moment came with the appointment of his longtime friend, Nuhu Ribadu, as National Security Adviser.

“Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and I have had a very solid and strong relationship right after he had been exiled by the Yaradua administration. In California, we spent a lot of time together; we were like brothers,” he revealed.

Ribadu, he said, personally assured him of the Tinubu administration’s commitment to improving Nigeria. This conversation was a game-changer.

“He convinced me. After he convinced me, I did a video in his office, and I told Nigerians that as long as Mallam Nuhu Ribadu is in this government, I am going to support this government, and I am going to support their economic policies,” Omokri declared.

Omokri insists his change of stance is not about political survival but about principle. “I have always followed the evidence,” he said, emphasizing that his critics fail to recognize his consistency in re-evaluating his views when presented with new facts.

While some Nigerians remain skeptical of his transformation, Omokri stands firm, attributing any confusion to the country’s short political memory.