Former presidential aide and social media commentator Reno Omokri has criticized Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s former presidential candidate, accusing him of fostering a culture of threats and harassment among his supporters, known as “Obidients.”
Omokri’s remarks came in response to Obi’s New Year message addressing threats against his life and family.
In his message shared on X (formerly Twitter), Obi questioned whether he had crossed a line, stating, “Have I really crossed the line? My New Year message has now led to threats against my life, my family, and those around me.” He also condemned the suppression of free speech and the drift toward what he described as “undemocratic practices.”
Omokri, however, responded with sharp criticism, alleging that Obi has consistently failed to address the behavior of his supporters. He accused the “Obidients” of threatening prominent Nigerians and engaging in abusive actions against those with differing political views.
Omokri wrote “When your Obidients were threatening the life of my one-year-old daughter, what did you do? I brought it to your attention. You did nothing. Every single day, I receive over ten death threats from Obidients. Have you called them out?”
He further accused Obi of enabling a “vicious mob” and questioned Obi’s claim of living under an “authoritarian regime,” pointing out incidents where individuals like Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka and religious leaders were targeted by Obi’s supporters. Omokri concluded by suggesting Obi should reflect on his own actions before accusing others of authoritarianism.
The exchange highlights growing tensions between Nigeria’s political figures and the behavior of their online supporters, raising questions about accountability and the boundaries of political discourse.
