“You Are a Trader, Not a Leader” – Reno Omokri tells Obi

Former presidential aide Reno Omokri has launched a scathing critique of Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, over claims that President Bola Tinubu has abandoned governance. Omokri’s reaction followed a post by Obi on X (formerly Twitter), where he questioned the President’s whereabouts and described his stay abroad as a neglect of duty.  

Responding on Monday, Omokri accused Obi of deliberately misleading the public, stating that the President’s location had been clearly communicated. “I read your most recent attack on the President, and it was a new low, even for you, and grossly irresponsible. Saying that nobody knows where the President is is a lie,” Omokri stated.  

He clarified that President Tinubu is currently in Abu Dhabi for the 2026 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, a publicly announced official engagement. Omokri also dismissed Obi’s claim that Nigerians had not heard from the President since December 2025, calling it a “blatant lie” and citing the New Year’s Day national broadcast.  

Omokri reminded Obi of the President’s late December activities, including visits to Borno, Bauchi, and Lagos, where he attended official events and condoled with citizens. He noted that the President then took a short, constitutionally allowed vacation before heading to the UAE for the global sustainability summit.  

The former aide further argued that international diplomacy is essential for economic growth, citing the 4.1% projected GDP growth for 2025 as evidence of the administration’s success. He mentioned that trips to Qatar and the BRICS summit in Brazil have already secured billions of dollars in investment pledges and foreign portfolio interest.  

Defending the frequency of the trips, Omokri compared Tinubu’s travels to those of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, whom Obi frequently praises. He argued that no leader can attract significant foreign investment by staying solely within their borders, insisting that the current administration’s foreign policy is yielding tangible results for Nigeria.  

Omokri concluded by questioning Obi’s suitability for leadership, suggesting his criticisms display a fundamental lack of understanding regarding complex statecraft. “That you do not know this is proof, once again, that you are a trader, not a leader, and you are better off operating a stall at Onitsha Market than leading a country as complex as Nigeria!” he said.