Former presidential aide Reno Omokri has launched a blistering attack on Peter Obi, accusing him of irresponsibly inciting the military with his claim that democracy has collapsed in Nigeria.
Obi, speaking at an event on Monday, alleged that democracy in the country had crumbled, blaming the judiciary for being compromised.
In a strongly worded statement on Monday, Omokri countered Obi’s assertion, insisting that it is Obi’s presidential ambition—not Nigeria’s democracy—that is truly dead.
“Peter Obi should be careful about baiting the military to plan a coup with his claims that democracy has collapsed in Nigeria. That is a most irresponsible statement,” Omokri cautioned.
He argued that Obi was defeated in the 2023 presidential election “fairly and squarely” and subsequently lost in court at both the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal and the Supreme Court.
Defending the declaration of a State of Emergency in Rivers State and the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Omokri dismissed Obi’s concerns as hypocritical.
He pointed out that similar actions had been taken under past administrations, including during Obi’s tenure as Anambra State Governor.
“Peter Obi is from Anambra. We remember when the Governor of Anambra was undemocratically removed even after swearing an oath to his godfather at the Okija shrine and locked up in a toilet. If democracy did not die then, why should it die now, Peter?” Omokri asked.
Drawing historical parallels, he noted: “Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa declared a State of Emergency in the Western Region in 1962 and suspended the Premier. President Obasanjo did the same in Plateau and Ekiti, removing Governors and appointing Administrators. Peter Obi was Governor of Anambra at that time and did not raise any concerns or complaints.”
Omokri further accused Obi of hypocrisy, pointing out that he failed to conduct Local Government elections in Anambra for seven years—an action he described as unconstitutional.
“Peter Obi did not hold Local Government elections in Anambra for seven years. He became Governor in 2006 and only held elections in 2014. Yet, here he is today, saying democracy in Nigeria has died,” Omokri said.
Taking a final swipe at Obi’s political future, he declared: “This is about Peter Obi and his failed presidential ambition, which died the day his ‘Yes Daddy’ audio threatening religious war on Muslims was leaked—not about Nigeria.”
