“From Critic to Clarifier?” — ‘Truth or Die’ as Reno Omokri Backtracks on Tinubu Comments
Ambassador-designate, Reno Omokri, has dismissed claims that he categorically ruled out working with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, insisting that his earlier remarks were misinterpreted and taken out of context.
Omokri made the clarification on Wednesday during an interview on Channels Television’s current affairs programme, Politics Today, following public backlash over his nomination as ambassador by the Tinubu administration despite his previous criticisms of the President.
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Responding to questions about an April 2023 interview in which he appeared to reject any role under Tinubu, Omokri said he never declared that he would refuse all forms of national service.
“That’s not what I said. I said that if asked to work with him, it is not in my DNA. That’s the word I used,” Omokri stated.
Pressed on whether his position had since changed, he maintained that his principles remain intact.
“My DNA has not changed. I’m not eating my words,” he said.
Omokri explained that his recent engagements with officials of the Tinubu administration involved clear boundaries regarding roles he could accept, based on his past public comments.
“When I met with administration officials, I explained to them. I said, this is what I said. I cannot take certain positions because of the things that I said and the positions I have held,” he disclosed.
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However, he stressed that his previous reservations applied only to specific political or executive positions and not to diplomatic service.
“I never said that I cannot work for Nigeria as an ambassador. I am working for Nigeria. I’m going to be an ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Omokri added.
The ambassador-designate further revealed that his assessment of President Tinubu’s leadership has evolved since the 2023 election disputes were concluded.
“My position on the president has changed. I believe he is the best thing for Nigeria,” he said.
Omokri declined to reveal details of his discussions with government officials but insisted that the distinction between political roles and diplomatic service was deliberate.
“I said, look, I cannot do this, I cannot do that because of what I had said. However, I can do this because I will be working for Nigeria,” he explained.
