Omokri revives 2019 dispute in fresh criticism of Obi

Former presidential aide Reno Omokri has accused the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, of seeking publicity and recognition over events he allegedly did not organise, citing a 2019 meeting with former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the recent reception of Nigeria’s Flamingos.
In a statement, Omokri claimed Obi was not originally invited to a meeting with Johnson at the British Parliament on April 3, 2019, but was brought along through his relationship with a member of the House of Lords, Lord Hannan.
Omokri said he and Senator Ben Murray-Bruce had invited Obi to accompany them to the meeting to give him international exposure.
He alleged that during the meeting, he suggested that Johnson become the first person to model his Giorgio Armani T-shirts produced in support of the campaign for the release of Leah Sharibu, and the former British Prime Minister agreed.
According to Omokri, a photograph of him with Johnson subsequently appeared on the front page of ThisDay newspaper, prompting Obi to complain to Murray-Bruce.
He claimed Obi was unhappy that he, rather than the former Anambra State governor, featured prominently in the photograph.
Omokri further alleged that he contacted the then Group Executive Director of ThisDay, Ijeoma Nwogwugwu, to request that the newspaper publish another photograph featuring Obi, himself, Murray-Bruce and Johnson.
He said the intervention was intended to pacify Obi.
Omokri maintained that Nwogwugwu, Murray-Bruce and Obi were alive and could speak to the events, adding that he had documentary evidence to support his account.
He then linked the alleged 2019 incident to Obi’s recent visit to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, where the former governor sought to meet and take photographs with Nigeria’s victorious U-17 women’s team, the Flamingos, following their triumph.
Omokri accused Obi of attempting to secure a photograph with the players before they met the President or his representatives, describing the move as inconsistent with protocol and proper conduct.
He argued that the two incidents reflected what he described as Obi’s tendency to claim recognition for achievements or events organised by others.
Omokri also alleged that some of Obi’s former aides had distanced themselves from him over the years, naming Dr Yunusa Tanko, formerly the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, as the latest example.
The claims were made by Omokri in a statement. The account of the 2019 meeting and the allegations concerning Obi’s conduct were not independently verified in the material provided.