By Ifeizu Joe
A Nigerian public commentator and political writer, Barr. Valentine Obienyem has disclosed that he will write any country where recent nominee, Mr Reno Omokri is posted, urging them to reject him.
Obienyem who is also an adviser to presidential candidate of Labour Party in 2023 election, Mr Peter Obi announced that he will formally petition any country to which Mr Reno Omokri is posted as Nigeria’s ambassador, urging the host government not to accept his letter of credence.
In a detailed draft letter waiting to be addressed to the President of the prospective host country and its Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Internal Affairs, which was made available to journalists, Obienyem chronicled reasons the nominee should be rejected.
The letter described as “grave concerns” some of the activities of the nominee, saying he is unsuitable to represent Nigeria diplomatically.
A substantial portion of the letter focuses on Omokri’s past public commentary on Nigeria’s President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Obienyem said: “In the period preceding and during the 2023 presidential election, Omokri was an outspoken critic of Tinubu, participating in protests and using strong language on social media to question the President’s fitness for office.
“He mocked President Bola Tinubu’s health severally, describing him as a “London patient”.
“This objection is based on Omokri’s publicly documented conduct and long-standing behaviour, which demonstrate instability, shifting loyalties, and an excessive tendency towards personal advancement rather than national interest.
“Accepting Omokri as ambassador could in my view pose risks to bilateral relations.
“Omokri’s past claims regarding Tinubu’s academic records and allegations of corruption were made publicly and without caveat at the time. This account is based on Omokri’s own published words.
“This is not a personal matter, but a question of public responsibility and the integrity of diplomatic representation,” Obienyem stated.
Obienyem says he is prepared to supply further documentation of Omokri’s public statements upon request, adding that his objections will be raised whenever and wherever Omokri is posted.
He added that he was ready to provide links to videos and social media posts which he said demonstrate these positions, emphasising that Omokri had publicly declared he would never work with Tinubu, characterising such an arrangement as contrary to his “principles and DNA”.
