Reno Omokri Breaks Silence on Ambassadorial Nomination Under Tinubu
Ambassador-designate Reno Omokri has publicly clarified that he never stated he would refuse any offer from the federal government led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. This remark was made on Wednesday, February 11, during an appearance on Politics Today, a programme on Channels Television, as monitored by Legit.ng. Omokri, a former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, is among the nominees President Tinubu has forwarded to the Senate for ambassadorial consideration.
Background of Omokri's Stance Shift
Public commentator Reno Omokri has faced intense scrutiny and public debate following his acceptance of an ambassadorial nomination from the President Tinubu-led federal government in late 2025. In April 2023, before Tinubu’s inauguration, Omokri stated in a Mic On Podcast interview with Seun Okinbaloye that he would "never" work with Tinubu, calling it against his principles and not in his "DNA". Prior to this, Omokri was a fierce critic of candidate Tinubu, labeling him a "known drug lord" and questioning his academic credentials and eligibility, even staging protests against him in London.
Omokri's Clarification on Serving Nigeria
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday evening, February 11, Omokri explained that by accepting the ambassadorial nomination, he is committing to serve Nigeria, not President Tinubu. He said, "I said if Tinubu asked me to work with him, I said that I will not. And I said that, the word I use is that 'it is not in my DNA'. My DNA has not changed. When I met with the administration’s officials, I explained to them, I said, this is what I had said. I cannot take certain positions because I had said that I cannot work for this, because of certain things, particularly because of the things that I said. However, I never said that I cannot work for Nigeria. As an ambassador, I am working for Nigeria. I'm going to be an ambassador of the federal republic of Nigeria. I am serving my country. Very clearly."
Shift in View and Support for Tinubu
Omokri added that his position on President Bola Tinubu has changed, stating, "When I had discussions with the people at the presidency, I said, look, I cannot do this, I cannot do that, I cannot do this because of what I had said and because of the positions I have held. However, I can do this because then I will be working for Nigeria. But even at that, my position on President Bola Tinubu has changed. I believe he is the best thing for Nigeria." This shift marks a significant turnaround from his earlier criticisms during the 2023 election cycle.
Related Developments and Retractions
Legit.ng earlier reported that former aviation minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, said that both he and Omokri have long retracted previous harsh criticisms made against President Tinubu. Fani-Kayode made this clarification following claims that activist Omoyele Sowore had referenced statements allegedly made by him about Tinubu over a decade ago in a bid to justify comments that are now the subject of a criminal defamation case. This highlights a broader trend of political figures reassessing their stances in the current administration.
The nomination and Omokri's clarification come amid ongoing political discussions in Nigeria, with many observers noting the evolving dynamics within the country's political landscape. As Omokri prepares for his potential role as an ambassador, his statements underscore the complex interplay between personal principles, public service, and political alliances in Nigerian governance.
