Reno Omokri is one of Nigeria's most controversial political
personas, a career marked by fanatical loyalty, dramatic turns, and unyielding controversy.
Whether serving as Special Assistant to former President Goodluck Jonathan, or
his current incarnation as 'activist' and social media expert, Omokri has
deftly navigated Nigerian political waters, seemingly engaged in a perpetual
war of attrition and public image arm wrestling.
While not attempting to pick a side, this analysis traces
the various controversies surrounding Omokri's public persona as closely as the
past twenty years' worth of fluctuations of Nigeria's political scene allow.
The Jonathan Years: Foundation of a Political Career (2010-2015)
Rise to Prominence as Presidential Aide
Reno Omokri rose to national prominence as Special Assistant
on New Media to President Goodluck Jonathan. During this time, he also became
known as a strident defender of the administration on social media, where he
would push back against various opposition narratives and defend government
policies.
He spent much of his time at the epicenter of contentious
political exchanges as the administration's internet warrior. During Jonathan's
presidency, Omokri cultivated the strong political messaging that would mark
his post-government career; messaging that was witty, provocative, and designed
to create conversation.
The "Wendell Simlin" Forgery (2014)
What this was: President Jonathan's Special Assistant on
Social Media at the time, Reno Omokri, under the name, 'Wendell Simlin',
circulated a Word document alleging that the then-CBN Governor Sanusi 'was
responsible for the increase of Boko Haram attacks' .
How it was discovered: Online detectives tracked the IP
address to Omokri, and possibly more damaging, the metadata of the document
itself showed that he signed off on it .
Impact: 'public backlash over his creation of and
distribution of inflammatory false information ' compilation of of forged
information' ' resulted in demands for him to be fired.
Reactions & Backlash
Premium Times opinion: the actual Wendell Simlin was an
American with a false identity, and digital footprints tracked the origin as
Omokri.
Defending the Indefensible
The Jonathan administration was beleaguered by several
issues, including the Boko Haram insurgency, economic issues and corruption.
Working as the regime's digital spokesperson, Omokri was placed in a position
of defending policies and actions that would later come to haunt his
credibility. But his support set a precedent of complete devotion that would
characterize his work and eventually be his greatest weakness.
The Great Tinubu Transformation: From Critic to Supporter (2015-2025)
The Buhari Years: Opposition Warrior (2015-2023)
When Jonathan lost the election in 2015, Omarhi re-branded
as an opposition figure and began to routinely undermine Muhammadu Buhari's
presidential administration. Around that same time, he started to consistently
criticize Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the power broker behind the APC.
The Drug Trafficking Allegations
Amongst these, one of Omokri's more consistent lines of
attack centered around the alleged history of Tinubu, including drug history in
the United States. As one reviewer put it, 'It was like he was shouting about
drugs and the president ' and only afterwards pretended that he hadn't said
it'.
The Shocking Reversal (2023-2025)
Omokri's greatest scandal came in the aftermath of the 2023
presidential election. The sudden turn from being a bitter critic to being a
supporter of President Bola Tinubu invited charges of opportunism and hypocrisy
all over Nigeria's social media.
The Ribadu Connection
Omokri's turnaround was attributed by many to the
appointment of Nuhu Ribadu, his long-time friend, as the National Security
Adviser. Many felt that his personal relationships had undermined his own
principles, and he was accused of being compromised or 'settled' by the new
administration.
Defending the Indefensible Redux
Responding to widespread rumors that he is working for the
All Progressives Congress, APC government, Omokri stated, 'So who was paying me
from 2023 to 2025 when I was visiting on matters regarding Nigeria? 'Why would
anybody give me money?' This was a defense that brought to light the speculation
about why he would back the very administration he had previously railed
against.
The Peter Obi Wars: Character Assassination or Political Strategy? (2022-2025)
From Ally to Enemy
There is perhaps no other relationship that better
demonstrates Omokri's ability to politically flip than his relationship with
Peter Obi. Omokri states that 'Obi was applying for
the vice presidency, sending his CV to him, and relentlessly phoning his way to
push his case as a fit Vice presidency candidate to Atiku Abubakar under the
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)'.
The 2023 Election Campaign: Scorched Earth Tactics
Throughout the 2023 Presidential elections, Omokri became
one of the most vocal critics of Peter Obi, launching more and more personal
attacks.
Predictions and Prophecies
'Peter Obi will certainly lose the 2023 election and become
history's dustbin'. 'Even Peter is aware of that by now', Omokri wrote, as he
accused the LP presidential candidate of regurgitating false economic data.
The Ultimate Threat
In what many saw as his extreme statement, Omokri vowed that
he 'Will never be alive and watch Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the
Labour Party, LP', become president.
Post-Election Reconciliation Attempts
Post-election, Omokri intermittently complimented the
'Obidient' movement, saying the 'what the Obidients, supporters of Peter Obi,
did for the Labour Party (LP), we have to give it to them'. These moments of
seeming reconciliation were often followed by new assaults.
Personal Scandals and Legal Battles
The Natasha Akpoti Controversy (2014/2021)
Perhaps the most damaging personal allegation against Omokri
came in October of 2021 when gubernatorial candidate Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan
accused Omokri of behaving inappropriately towards her at a state banquet in
May of 2014.
Swift Defense and Vindication
Omokri 'quickly responded, providing evidence he had not
been in the country at the time'. 'His transparency dealing with the
controversies' was an indication of the way he dealt with a crisis.
The alleged victim later rescinded her comments and removed
her allegations, and Omokri allegedly obtained large sums in damages, though
the amounts were never revealed.
The Lagos-Calabar Highway Verification Fiasco (June 2025)
One of Omokri's most recent embarrassing controversies is
perhaps his attempt to justify President Tinubu's lies on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project. In June of 2025, after publicly questioning the
government's handling of the project and its finances, Omokri took a
'verification trip' to see if the government was still making claims regarding
the completion of the project.
The False Claims and Spin Attempts
On Tuesday, June 10, 2025, Omokri was at Kilometre 19.5, the
Lagos-Calabar highway's first stretch's terminus located at Okun Ajah, Lagos
state. But his efforts to authenticate the story of the government misfired as
his video recording ascertained incomplete portions of the Lagos-Calabar
Coastal Highway, despite President Tinubu's assertions of 30km of the project
being finished.
The Wole Soyinka Fabrication
In an effort to save face for defending the project, Omokri
even went to the length of lying about Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka,
coming with him to inspect the highway at KM30. This lie was easily disproven
by the revelation that Soyinka was not in the location that Omokri indicated.
Adding insult to injury, the same Omokri had a history of
public altercations with Soyinka over different issues, rendering his appeal to
the alleged support of the Nobel Laureate, desperate and duplicitous. Not only
did Omokri attempt to spin the story, but when presented with information that
undermined his statements, he only made the controversy worse and raised more
questions surrounding his credibility.
Public Backlash and Credibility Crisis
The highway verification controversy drew attention to
several concerning trends in Omokri's public advocacy:
Fabrication of Evidence: Creating false narratives in
support of government positions
Soiling Respected Figures: Seeking to exploit the reputation
of Professor Soyinka to authenticate his allegations
Flaccid Damage Control: His later efforts to dismiss the
contradictions only exacerbated them
For many Nigerians, this incident was a turning point with
respect to their belief in Omokri's credibility and was seen as clear evidence
that he would go to lengths to make up stories in support of the current
government.
Recent Security Concerns (2025)
But, in June 2025, Omokri alleged that his 'X (Formerly
Twitter) Handle Has Been Hacked By Persons Connected To A Failed Presidential
Candidate And A Serial False Accuser To Frustrate My Honest Bunch Podcast
Interview.'
The attack underscores the continued concern for the safety
and security of media personnel, especially influential political commentators,
in the highly charged online space in Nigeria.
Religious and Social Commentary Controversies
The Tithe vs. Tax Debate (2024)
In April of 2024, Omokri created a
huge uproar in Nigeria's religious circle by suggesting that Christians should
cease paying tithes to pastors and directly pay them to the government for the
good of the nation. This stance was a critique of religion itself, and church
leaders from multiple denominations condemned it.
Ethnic Tensions and Inflammatory Statements (2025)
Dr. Josef Onoh, a former spokesman for the Tinubu campaign,
recently accused Omokri of provoking ethnic violence against the Igbos. The
posts were related to the controversial 1966 military coup and were seen by
some as incendiary and polarizing.
Social Media Misogyny Allegations
Omokri has been plagued with misogyny accusations throughout
his career, specifically about his guidelines on dating, gender roles, and
marriage. His recommendation to men in March of 2024, 'how to approach women out
of their league,' is representative of the sort of material that routinely
prompts ire and claims of insensitivity.
The London Protests: Activism or Performance? (2021)
#HarassBuhariOutofLondon Campaign
After Buhari's trips to the UK for medical needs, in April
2021, Omokri led protests in London, UK, demanding that President Muhammadu
Buhari return to Nigeria and seek medical attention instead of using UK
healthcare. The protests ' dubbed #HarassBuhariOutofLondon ' were celebrated
and condemned.
Critics Perspective: There were many Nigerians who felt that
Omokri was a hypocrite for pointing out the irony of leaders abandoning the
country to seek medical attention while the home country lacks necessary
amenities.
Critics: Some supporters of the opposition felt that the
protests were 'disgraceful, and may destroy Nigeria's international
reputation'.
The Pattern: Loyalty, Betrayal, and Reinvention
Analysis of Omokri's Political Evolution
A look at Omokri's career shows some consistent patterns:
Loyal to a Fault: Omokri becomes loyal to those politicians
he identifies with, often to the point of defending positions that ultimately
become cringeworthy.
Dramatic Reversals: The ability to pull complete ideological
reversals like the one with Tinubu brings into question whether he has no core
convictions or whether he is simply an opportunist.
Personal Relations Over Principles: Many criticize the
overriding of any allegedly existing political principles with personal relations,
as seen in the Ribadu connection to his support of Tinubu.
Combat-Style Politics: Omokri uses personal and brutal
attacks on his opponents, turning political discourse into a zero-sum game.
Manufacture and Misinformation: The Lagos-Calabar highway incident
is but one example of his readiness to manufacture false narratives and
misinformation to support his positions.
Credibility Ruined: Constantly lying and then flimsy
cover-ups have eroded his credibility with many Nigerians.
The Social Media Strategy
Omokri understands the mechanics of social media; he has
mastered the principle that controversy gets attention and attention creates
influence. These include his approach:
Provocative Statements: Meant to elicit the most engagement
Personal Attacks: Frequently straying from political
commentary to attacks on personality
One Reversal at the Right Time: To maintain relevance and
impact
Crisis Control: Responding promptly to allegations with
proof when able
Manufacture when Needed: Manufacturing the details when the
facts don't support his positions
Widespread Use of Respected Figures: The unauthorized use of
names and reputations of prominent figures to add credibility to fraudulent
representations
Current Status and Future Implications (2025)
The Ongoing Showunmi Controversy
Omokri has not left public quarrels behind, as evidenced by
his more recent tussle with PDP chieftain Segun Showunmi regarding a purported
employment situation. Olisa Metuh, a former National Publicity Secretary of the
Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has confirmed the assertion made by Reno Omokri
that he was instrumental in the emergence of Segun Showunmi as spokesman for
former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
Economic Commentary and Policy Influence
Omokri has recently called for President Bola Tinubu to
'make an Executive Order that will prohibit betting on sports within Nigeria so
that the Naira may grow.' It also shows that he continued to try to publicly
advocate for policy change.
Impact on Nigerian Political Discourse
The Omokri Effect
Reno Omokri's brand of political commentary has helped shape
several trends in Nigerian politics:
Personalization of Politics: A Focus on the politics of
personal attack has only furthered the increasing personalization of politics
in Nigeria.
Social Media as Weapon: And he has been imitated
extensively, many of his copycats utilizing social media as a weapon in the
political war.
Loyalty Culture: His hyper-display of loyalty has cemented a
political culture of transactional relationships based on utility, rather than
based on shared ideology.
Betrayal of Trust: High-profile reversals such as his
undermine public faith in political commentary as a whole and the actor's
motives.
Lessons for Political Communication
Omokri's career in this respect provides a few lessons for a
politics of communication in Nigeria:
Consistency Matters: His credibility challenges stem largely
from dramatic ideological reversals
Personal Relationships vs. Public Positions: The tension
between private relationships and public positions can create serious
credibility issues
The Double-Edged Sword of Social Media: While social media
can build influence quickly, it also creates permanent records of contradictory
positions
Truth Over Loyalty: The Lagos-Calabar highway incident
demonstrates that fabricating evidence to support political allies ultimately
destroys credibility
Respect for Public Figures: Exploiting respected
personalities like Professor Soyinka for false endorsements damages both the
fabricator and the democratic discourse
Conclusion
Reno Omokri is an exclusively Nigerian political breed, a
loyalist activist who has returned to loyalty. He has been involved in and/or
commenting on the development of Nigerian politics for two decades, as the
country has engaged in what some have called an ongoing democratic experiment.
The very controversies he was involved in also say much
about Nigerian politics, the influence of friendship, the difficulty of
holding firm to values in an ever-changing political landscape, and the rise of
social media as a means of both reputation-building and demolishing.
Omokri has changed the face of political discourse in
Nigeria, whether one sees him as a principled individual who has changed his
views based on new facts or an opportunistic man who chases influence and
access. His staying power through various political seasons and his continued
relevance despite incessantly being embroiled in controversy says something
either about his strategic genius or just the forgiving nature of Nigerian
political culture.
And as Nigeria continues to deal with issues on leadership,
accountability and democracy, influencers like Reno Omokri will remain
relevant. Perhaps the determining factor in whether such an influence is
ultimately productive or deleterious will be whether he can merge his advocacy
work with his previous public positions and persuade the Nigerian populace that
the impetus for his actions is public and not personal.
Reno Omokri's story is not finished, and if his career thus
far is an indicator, the next act will probably be the most unexpected. What is
certain is that he will remain a divisive character, whose every pronouncement
will be analyzed for coherence, motivation, and significance to Nigeria's
political landscape.
