A major crisis is brewing in the Nigerian Senate following the listing of social media commentator and former presidential aide, Reno Omokri, among the ambassadorial nominees.
The controversial appointment, which comes despite Omokri’s past scathing criticism of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has sparked intense factional battles and even led to the temporary shutdown of the lawmakers’ internal communication platform.
Omokri’s name was among the 32 forwarded to the Senate for confirmation. However, his nomination has generated a storm of opposition, primarily due to a prior contentious remark where he reportedly labelled the current President a “drug baron.”
Multiple sources told Sahara Reporters that Senate President Godswill Akpabio was instrumental in championing Omokri’s nomination, allegedly as a political reward.
In an unexpected turn, however, Akpabio is now reportedly mobilizing his own loyalists to reject the very nominee he helped put forward.
“The senate president had nominated Omokri as a reward for the hatchet job he did for him,” one source disclosed.
“However, Akpabio is rallying some of his clique to screen Omokri out on the claim that he once attacked Tinubu and called him a drug baron.”
In related opposition, Senator Osita Ngwu of Enugu West has taken a prominent role in mobilizing resistance against Omokri’s confirmation.
Ngwu is said to be urging his colleagues to reject the nominee on grounds of impropriety, arguing that an individual who made such serious allegations against a sitting President cannot credibly represent the nation internationally.
“Senator Osita Ngwu, representing Enugu West Senatorial District, is reported to be rallying senators to reject Omokri,” an insider noted.
“Ngwu has been attacking colleagues against the move.”
The internal disagreements escalated into a larger crisis when the Senate’s routine communication channel, a WhatsApp group for lawmakers, was abruptly locked after arguments over Omokri’s nomination intensified.
Senator Ngwu, reportedly an administrator of the group, allegedly disabled responses to halt the confrontations. This move reportedly angered several senators who felt their voices were being silenced.
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, publicly challenged Ngwu over the group shutdown and demanded that the platform be reopened, and comments deleted during the altercation be restored.
“Dear Senator Osita Ngwu of Enugu Enugu West Senatorial District, you will open responses in the Senators WhatsApp forum and repost my deleted comments,” she posted.
“Else I’ll bring the discussion to the public domain.”
Ngwu defended his stance, insisting that anyone who had called the President a “drug baron” was unfit to represent the country.
He said, “Someone who called the President of Nigeria a drug baron and who has not retracted the statement should not represent Nigeria and Nigerians in the international and diplomatic society.
“It’s about the office of the President not about an individual. Meanwhile, bring it up…”
Despite the significant uproar, the Senate is scheduled to commence the screening of all ambassadorial nominees on Tuesday.
This political firestorm is further complicated by Omokri’s own prior public declarations.
Before the 2023 presidential election, Omokri was one of President Tinubu’s fiercest critics and once swore never to accept any appointment or work under his administration.
Reno made the remarks during an appearance on the Mic On podcast, hosted by journalist Seun Okinbaloye, when asked directly if he would accept an offer from Tinubu.
“It will never happen,” he said. Pressed further on whether any scenario could make him reconsider, he added: “Oh my gosh, I don’t want to betray privilege. Somebody from Bola Tinubu’s camp has already reached out to me, and I told the person that, look, it cannot happen.
“I can’t do it. It’s just against my principles. Some people can do that. It’s not in my DNA. I can’t do it.
“It’s never going to happen. It’s never going to happen. I wish Bola Tinubu well if he eventually is sworn in and then the court upholds his victory. But I can never work with him.”
