Nigerians have criticised a former aide to ex-president Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri, for accusing Peter Obi of gaslighting the North (Arewa) into protesting against the President Bola Tinubu-led federal government.
While speaking in an interview on Channels TV, Omokri accused Obi of deceiving the North into protesting and destroying their region.
Omokri described the protest as a deliberate ploy by Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 presidential election, to turn Northerners against themselves and against the federal government.
According to Omokri, ”Arewa must face the fact that they were gaslighted. Not one of the protest organisers or promoters is from the core North. Not a single one. Yet, the killings, destruction of public property, and looting of private businesses took place entirely in Northern Nigeria.”
He mentioned that ”This was a psychological operation against Arewa. To turn you against yourselves and the Federal Government. In less than twenty-four hours, billions of Naira worth of property were destroyed, and people were waving the Russian flags.”
Omokri’s statement has attracted the wrath of Nigerians, with many accusing him of inciting ethnoreligious divide and violence in the country.
Reacting to his accusations, an X user, simply identified as Wilson, said, ”Reno Omokri, this is a direct attempt to further incite ethnic violence and stroke regional tensions.”
”By framing the protests as a targeted attack on Arewa and implying that other regions are responsible, you’re using dangerous rhetoric that can have devastating consequences.”
”Reno omokri cannot be in the UK and be instigating violence between ethnic groups in Nigeria. He should be cautioned or move to Nigeria if he so loves this country more than those who live in it,” Christopher Nelson stated.
E. Mbuyazi described Omokri as ”a paid agent of the ruling party. His mission is to attack Obi relentlessly. He does that even when it is very obvious that it is false. I never knew greed can make someone very desperate and shameless like this.”
For Tony Oshiomogho, in his reaction, he described Omokri as a ”political prostitute” in his statement, which reads, ”I wonder what you are trying to gain with all your inciting posts, but very soon we will know who the true enemies of Nigeria are. Truth be told, sir, you will not be left out. Political prostitute.”
Abdulyasar Faruk said, ”Baba, you’re heartless. You are just focussing on your Tunibu PR, disregarding the fact that Arewa is battling with insecurity, hunger, and lack of education, among others, that none of the southern states are suffering. If you won’t help us fight it, just stay idle and continue your PR.”
”Dear Sir Reno Omokri,” Peter Olufemi wrote. ”You may think you are getting back at Peter Obi, but you are simply creating division and preparing ground for ethnic cleansing of Igbos,” he added.
”Your post is dividing the country the more, and that is a great disservice to our nation. Remember, heaven is watching,” Olufemi added.
According to Dr. Law, he mentioned that the self-acclaimed ”table shaker” works assiduously to create an ethnoreligious divide in the country.
”All you’ve been trying to do is cause division between the East and the North, the East and the West. Woe unto you that sows a seed of discord amongst brethren. You are such a vile thing filled with hatred, all for the purpose of monetary gain,” Dr. Law stated.
Emmanuel Aboh urged the social media influencer to stop spreading ”hate speech” against Obi.
”Reno is just trying to incite ethnoreligious violence. I am a Northerner from Kogi State; I lived all my life in Kano until 2022, now residing in Abuja. Let it be known to you, we Northerners are wiser; you can’t incite us against one another. Stop the hate speech,” Aboh stated.
For David, he mentioned that ”The likes of Reno Omokri, Daniel Bwala, and co. are the primary reasons why the Tinubu government will crash.”
”Tinubu must not listen to the sycophants around and within the villa and must attend to the protesters demands if he wants to go down in history as a courageous man.”
