Former presidential aide and political commentator, Reno Omokri, has publicly declared his commitment to dismantling the Obidient movement, attributing his decision to personal threats and a falling out with Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
Speaking on Breakfast Central on Thursday, Omokri refuted allegations that his opposition to Obi and his supporters was driven by a personal vendetta. Instead, he highlighted his role in Obi’s political ascent and how a subsequent disillusionment led him to take a hardline stance against the movement.
“I took a vow to destroy that movement because Peter Obi was a project of mine,” Omokri stated, recalling his involvement in elevating Obi’s national prominence.
He claimed that alongside Senator Ben Murray-Bruce and a former president, he played a crucial role in securing Obi’s selection as Atiku Abubakar’s running mate in the 2019 presidential election.
“I was responsible for Peter Obi becoming the running mate to Waziri Atiku Abubakar in 2019. I’ve said this publicly. I’ve got the documents. I’m a meticulous record keeper,” Omokri asserted.
While Obi’s unexpected departure from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) without prior consultation caused friction, Omokri revealed that his decisive break came as a result of the conduct of Obi’s supporters.
“Peter Obi’s movement, Obidients, started attacking me, threatening me, insulting me. That was OK,” he said. “But then they moved from myself to my family. I had just had a daughter at that time. There were multiple death threats.”
Omokri further alleged that the threats escalated into real-life encounters, including incidents where individuals reportedly tracked his movements.
“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 pursued me, threatening me,” he claimed.
According to Omokri, his appeals to Obi for intervention went unanswered. He alleged that the former Labour Party presidential candidate refused to publicly disavow a particular individual linked to the threats against him.
Feeling abandoned and under threat, Omokri said he resolved to take action.
“I had to deploy whatever political machinery I have to destroy that movement,” he declared.
