By Editor
Introduction: Reno Omokri’s Dubious Rise to Prominence
In the ever-evolving and fiercely competitive world of Nigerian politics, the rise of individuals like Reno Omokri, a once-invisible aide under former President Goodluck Jonathan, presents a cautionary tale about opportunism, self-promotion, and parasitic tendencies. Omokri’s trajectory has seen him navigate a complex web of political alliances, all while reinventing his public persona to match the shifting tides of political power. His latest attacks on Peter Obi and sudden defence of Bola Tinubu — a man he once publicly vilified — have raised critical questions about his true motives.
This explosive commentary on Reno Omokri from a Nigerian political observer, Ena Ofugara, offers an incisive critique of Omokri’s persona. From his alleged reliance on political patrons like the late Oronto Douglas to his unabashed defence of Tinubu, Omokri is cast as a political parasite, latching onto powerful hosts to sustain his relevance and financial survival.
But is Omokri’s behaviour symptomatic of a broader problem in Nigerian politics, or is he merely an opportunistic survivor navigating the treacherous waters of Nigerian political intrigues? Let’s take a deep dive into Omokri’s rise and fall, examining the parasitic tendencies that have fuelled his political career.
Omokri’s Background: A Man of Many Faces
To understand Reno Omokri’s present state, one must first explore his early political roots. Omokri, born into a family of prominence with his father being one of Nigeria’s youngest judges and a mother tied to the Itsekiri Monarchy, was a man raised with a sense of aristocracy. This false sense of self-worth and nobility, the commentator alleges, underpins much of Omokri’s disdain for work deemed beneath him. Indeed, Omokri’s early life was shaped by privilege, and when sent to the U.S. at a young age, it fostered in him an inflated sense of superiority.
According to the commentator, this sense of superiority is evident in Omokri’s career choices. Unlike figures like Ben Bruce, who seamlessly transitioned back to their business ventures post-politics, Omokri appears to have floundered. Despite attempts to brand himself as a pastor — an endeavour that reportedly ended in failure — and an activist, his real skill seems to be attaching himself to powerful political figures. Omokri’s trajectory has not been marked by success in any particular field outside of politics, and the commentator paints a vivid picture of Omokri as a man “too proud to be a front desk attendant” despite his lack of additional skills.
Omokri’s political survival, then, is painted as not merely opportunistic but parasitic in nature. Without a true career or business like Peter Obi or Ben Bruce, Omokri’s relevance is entirely dependent on his association with the powerful — from Jonathan to Atiku, and now Tinubu.
The Parasite in Action: From Jonathan to Atiku and Beyond
The most scathing part of the commentary lies in the vivid imagery used to describe Omokri’s attachment to powerful political figures. The description of Omokri as a parasite that moves from host to host is both metaphorical and literal. When Jonathan left office in 2015, Ben Bruce and other loyalists moved on to their private businesses. However, Omokri, lacking any viable professional alternative, found himself in a precarious position. As the observer notes, he quickly latched onto Atiku Abubakar, branding himself as Atiku’s online warrior.
But Omokri’s relationship with Atiku was not without irony. According to the commentary, when Atiku realised his chances of winning the presidency were slim, Omokri’s attachment to him weakened. Faced with the end of another political relationship, Omokri launched his most audacious and controversial project yet: a one-man army against Peter Obi and his supporters.
What makes Omokri’s attack on Peter Obi particularly troubling is the timing. As the commentator points out, Omokri had previously styled himself as a defender of Northern interests, often appearing in Northern attire and espousing the virtues of Northern political figures. But when the tide shifted, so did Omokri. Suddenly, the man who had once ridiculed Tinubu for his alleged links to drug trafficking began praising Tinubu’s economic policies and defending his Yoruba heritage.
The transformation was stark, and many political observers were left wondering: What caused this drastic change? For the commentator, the answer is simple: Omokri, like any good parasite, needed a new host. With Atiku politically sidelined, Omokri shifted his allegiance to Tinubu, hoping to ingratiate himself with the ruling class and secure his own relevance in a rapidly changing political landscape.
Tinubu’s New Puppet: Omokri’s Yoruba Rebranding
Perhaps the most comical and damning part of the commentary is the way Omokri has rebranded himself as a defender of Yoruba heritage. The Urhobo-born commentator points out the absurdity of Omokri’s sudden claim to Yoruba ancestry. Despite being Urhobo by birth, Omokri has gone to great lengths to identify with Yoruba culture, even wearing Aso Oke and claiming that Itsekiri traditions are rooted in Yoruba history.
This transformation is not just a desperate attempt to find a new political home, but also a calculated move to align himself with Tinubu’s supporters. The commentator draws attention to Omokri’s defence of Afrobeat as a Yoruba genre, despite his previous focus on Northern politics. By aligning himself with Tinubu and Yoruba culture, Omokri is once again proving his adaptability and survival instincts. But the question remains: How long will this new host tolerate him?
The Future of Reno Omokri: A Host’s Choice
As the commentator sharply observes, political parasites like Omokri thrive only as long as their hosts allow them to. The moment a host realises the parasite is more trouble than it’s worth, the relationship ends, often disastrously for the parasite. Omokri’s relationship with Tinubu, according to the observer, is a precarious one. While Tinubu’s handlers may find Omokri useful for now, the commentator suggests that they are fully aware of Omokri’s opportunistic nature. They chuckle behind closed doors about how little Omokri can truly take before he becomes a liability.
The use of the metaphor of the he-goat further emphasises Omokri’s position in Nigerian politics. He is not a lion, a leader, or even a follower with true conviction. He is a parasite, a “small he-goat” whose survival is contingent on his ability to lock horns with those who stand in the way of his latest host.
For Omokri, the future is uncertain. While he may have found a new host in Tinubu, the commentator warns that this relationship, like all of Omokri’s previous ones, is bound to end. The only question is: What will Omokri do when Tinubu no longer finds him useful? Will he attempt to reinvent himself yet again, or will this be the end of Reno Omokri’s parasitic political career?
Conclusion: The Parasite’s Dilemma
Reno Omokri’s political career is a lesson in opportunism, survival, and the darker side of Nigerian politics. From Jonathan to Atiku and now Tinubu, Omokri has demonstrated an uncanny ability to attach himself to powerful figures, reinventing himself to match the political climate. But this adaptability comes at a cost. As the commentator suggests, Omokri’s parasitic tendencies may eventually lead to his downfall. Without a true profession or business of his own, Omokri’s future depends entirely on his ability to find new hosts. And in the cutthroat world of Nigerian politics, even the best parasites eventually run out of hosts.
An Atlantic Post analysis of Ena Ofugara's political commentary on Reno Omokri's perceived parasitic opportunism.
