Reno Omokri, a former Special Adviser to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, has criticized Peter Obi over his recent comments directed at President Bola Ahmed Tinubu regarding poverty alleviation in the country.
Omokri, known for his outspoken views and self-proclaimed title as a "table shaker," took to social media on Friday to issue a statement accusing Obi of hypocrisy. He claimed that the President is actively working to reduce poverty in Nigeria, unlike Obi, who allegedly worsened poverty levels during his tenure as the Governor of Anambra State.
This controversy arose following a statement by the Labour Party's 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, who urged President Tinubu to visit various states to witness firsthand the dire poverty faced by Nigerians. Obi's remarks were seen as a call to action for the federal government to address the pressing economic challenges in the country.
In his reaction, Omokri dismissed Obi's comments as mere political propaganda. He accused Obi of adopting a "new year resolution" to become the ambassador of "fake statistics and propaganda," implying that his claims lack substance.
Omokri questioned Obi’s selective criticism, pointing out that he did not hold state Governors or local government chairmen accountable for poverty levels despite their significant role in governance. He emphasized that federal allocations to states have doubled under Tinubu’s administration and highlighted that local governments now receive allocations directly due to Tinubu's efforts to grant them financial autonomy.
“Other than addressing the inflation rate, which the President has promised to tackle as stated in his New Year speech, and stabilizing monetary policy, which is already underway, the bulk of poverty alleviation work lies with state governments,” Omokri stated.
He added, “Obi is fixated on President Tinubu because he envies his position and the effective manner in which he wields power. And this fixation is not surprising given Obi’s track record. While Tinubu successfully reduced poverty as Governor of Lagos State, Obi’s tenure in Anambra saw a significant increase in poverty levels.”
Omokri’s remarks have since sparked mixed reactions on social media, with supporters and critics of both political figures weighing in on the ongoing debate.
