Reno Omokri, who served as an aide to former President Goodluck Jonathan from 2010 to 2015, has disclosed the reasons behind his decision to withdraw his support for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. Once a staunch ally of Atiku, Omokri has now aligned himself with the current administration led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a political competitor of Atiku.
In a recent statement, Omokri, who is also a pastor and social media influencer, elaborated on his departure from Atiku’s camp following the 2023 general elections.
“I played a significant role in assembling Atiku Abubakar’s media team and even brought in a few individuals who performed admirably. However, some of them proved to be disloyal and backstabbing,” he explained.
He emphasized that he had given Atiku a chance to rectify the situation, stating, “Loyalty should be reciprocal. When I commit to someone, I do so wholeheartedly and expect the same in return. I had hoped for decisive action from him, but when that didn’t happen, I approached him directly and said, ‘Sir, due to this situation, I can no longer support you and will be aligning myself elsewhere.’”
Omokri further revealed that he had made up his mind to part ways with Atiku well before the 2023 elections. “I confided in a mutually trusted associate about my decision to leave, regardless of the election outcome, whether Atiku wins or loses. That person can attest to this.”
He criticized Atiku’s inability to distinguish between genuine loyalty and sycophantic behaviour, stating, “Atiku Abubakar faces ongoing challenges due to this lack of discernment.”
Despite his criticisms, Omokri acknowledged Atiku’s capabilities, asserting, “Aside from these issues, Waziri Atiku Abubakar possesses the qualities necessary to lead Nigeria effectively and stands on par with Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
