A former presidential aide, Reno Omokri, has defended his continued support for President Bola Tinubu, stating that the President is delivering reforms that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had long championed.
Omokri, who served under former President Goodluck Jonathan, made this known in a statement on Tuesday, following what he described as “unwarranted attacks” from allies of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
Naijaonpoint reports that he expressed dismay over what he called the “unjustified hostility” from Atiku’s media team, insisting he has never spoken ill of the PDP presidential candidate, either publicly or privately.
“There is absolutely no reason for those around Waziri Atiku Abubakar to fight with someone who only has the utmost respect for the former Vice President and has never had an unkind word to say about him overtly or covertly,” he said.
He emphasised that while his current political stance might seem at odds with his past affiliations, it was rooted in his loyalty to Nigeria’s progress, not to personalities.
According to Omokri, his support for President Tinubu stems from the latter’s implementation of key policies the PDP had previously proposed but never fully executed.
He said, “Yes, I support President Bola Tinubu and forcefully so because he is delivering the results we in the Peoples Democratic Party said we were going to achieve: fuel subsidy removal, Naira flotation, devolution of power, and loans to students.”
He further stated that what truly mattered was Nigeria’s development, not partisan allegiance.
Omokri said, “It does not matter if the cat is black or white, as long as it catches mice. And it matters not if the party in power is APC or PDP, as long as it delivers progress for the Nigerian nation.”
Omokri also pointed out the ideological similarity between Tinubu and Atiku, noting that both men had their political roots in the 1989 Social Democratic Party (SDP).
He said: “President Bola Tinubu and Waziri Atiku are both of the 1989 Social Democratic Party stock, and there is little or no difference between them.”
In response to insinuations of betrayal, Omokri maintained that his integrity remained intact, despite his recent political realignment.
The former presidential aide noted, “In the course of working to actualise the vision of Waziri Atiku Abubakar, I have never betrayed confidential information … and I never will. Despite what happened after 2023, nobody can say I have attempted to profit privately or publicly from such confidences.”
He expressed disappointment that despite his restraint and loyalty, he was still being vilified.
Omokri stated, “To therefore attack me, when I have never even as much as said one negative word about Waziri or his immediate coterie, is most unkind. Nevertheless, I will not respond in kind.”
He stated that his silence in the face of criticism was not a sign of weakness, but one borne out of respect for his past relationships.
According to Omokri, “I choose to suffer the insults hurled at me without any retaliation. I am only observing restraint out of respect, not out of cowardice.”
He rounded off by affirming his support for Tinubu in the face of opposition attacks.
“As long as Obi takes on President Tinubu, I will tackle him,” Omokri declared.