Social commentator and former presidential aide, Reno Omokri, has criticised Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, for keeping silent over United States President Donald Trump’s recent threat to deploy troops to Nigeria.
Trump had last week designated Nigeria as a “Country of Concern” over alleged persecution of Christians and hinted at possible military intervention to “flush out terrorists.” The statement has since sparked widespread outrage, with many Nigerians and government officials condemning it as a violation of Nigeria’s sovereignty.
However, according to Omokri, Peter Obi’s refusal to speak publicly on the issue is “deeply suspicious” and unworthy of a national leader.
In a post on his official Facebook page on Sunday, Omokri said Obi’s silence raises questions about his patriotism and loyalty at a time when the country’s independence and dignity are under threat.
“Nigeria and Nigerians must never forget the loud silence of Peter Obi during this time of crisis for our dear nation,” Omokri wrote. “No good leader goes underground when the sound of thunder threatens his country, unless he is the one who pointed the finger in the first place.”
He further alleged that Obi’s quietness could be seen as a form of tacit support for Trump’s controversial remarks.
“His silence is very pregnant with meaning, collusion, and approval,” Omokri stated. “A man who has an opinion on everything suddenly goes quiet. That is a most suspicious and inauspicious silence.”
Omokri, a well-known supporter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, has often criticised Obi and the Labour Party for what he calls their “hypocrisy and lack of national experience.”
The recent tension between Nigeria and the United States follows Trump’s declaration, which some analysts describe as reckless and inflammatory. Nigerian officials, including presidential aide Daniel Bwala, have already warned that any U.S. military operation without President Bola Tinubu’s approval would be diplomatically unacceptable.
