Reno Omokri, a political analyst and former presidential aide, has announced his intention to dismantle the Obidient movement, citing personal threats and a fallout with Peter Obi as the primary motivations.
In an appearance on Breakfast Central on Thursday, Omokri dismissed suggestions that his opposition to Obi and his supporters stemmed from personal grudges. Instead, he shared insights into his early involvement in Obi’s political rise and the eventual disillusionment that led him to take a stand.
“I vowed to destroy that movement because Peter Obi was my project,” Omokri stated, reflecting on his key role in raising Obi’s profile.
He further explained how, alongside Senator Ben Murray-Bruce and a former president, he played a pivotal part in securing Obi’s nomination as Atiku Abubakar’s running mate during the 2019 presidential race.
“I was responsible for Peter Obi becoming Atiku Abubakar’s running mate in 2019. I’ve said this publicly. I have the documents. I’m a meticulous record keeper,” he asserted.
While tensions grew when Obi unexpectedly left the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) without consulting his supporters, Omokri emphasized that the real breaking point came with the behavior of Obi’s supporters.
“Peter Obi’s movement, the Obidients, began attacking me, threatening me, and insulting me. That was fine,” Omokri recounted. “But then they escalated it to my family. I had just had a daughter at the time, and there were multiple death threats.”
The harassment, according to Omokri, became more intense. “They came to my house in the United Kingdom. They trailed my wife and me when we were jogging. They found out my jogging route and followed us, threatening me.”
Omokri claimed he reached out to Obi in hopes of resolving the situation, but said Obi refused to condemn those responsible for the threats.
Feeling abandoned and betrayed, Omokri made a firm decision: “I had to use whatever political influence I have to destroy that movement.”
