- Safiu Kehinde
Former Presidential aide, Reno Omokri, has come under fire after attempt to denounce former Senate President, David Mark, and former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, over their takeover of the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
NPO Reported that David Mark had yesterday emerged as the new interim National Chairman of the ADC following the party’s adoption by the National Opposition Coalition Group (NOCG).
Aregbesola was appointed as the interim National Secretary of the party with all previous leaders of the ADC stepping down at all levels, including the party’s founder, Ralph Nwosu.
Reacting to the development in a post shared on his Instagram handle on Wednesday, Omokri talked down the pedigree of new ADC National leaders, recounting David Mark’s infamous statement that ‘Telephones Are Not For The Poor’.
He also accused Aregbesola of inciting religious violence with his plot to force Christian Missionary schools to merge with schools they had no affiliation with during his time as Osun governor.
Omokri claimed that the coalition party was not formed to fight poverty or address the issues affecting Nigerians but formed with the desperate intent to oust President Bola Tinubu out of power, labelling it as anti-Tinubu party.
“David Mark is 77 years old, and Rauf Aregbesola is 68. And these are the people who will lead the new coalition party. Can you, as a Nigerian youth, have any hope in such a gerontocratic party, headed by a man who inspired the headline, ‘Telephones Are Not For The Poor’, and another, who as Osun Governor caused religious crisis in his state by forcing Christian Missionary schools to merge with schools they had no affiliation with, which led to religious violence in Osun?
“What is their purpose for coming together? They have stated it clearly. It is not to make telephones affordable for the poor, but to simply take power from President Bola Tinubu.
“This is not a pro-Nigerian coalition, or a union to fight poverty, or even a coming together to address the issues that affect the ordinary person.
“This is an anti-Tinubu party whose manifesto is to get Tinubu out of power so they can restore the fuel subsidy that made the elites richer without benefiting the poor.” Omokri wrote.
He further claimed that members of the coalition party are unhappy with Tinubu’s economic reform especially the removal of oil subsidy which claimed they plan to return for their personal benefits if voted back in power.
“They are not happy that Nigeria is no longer the biggest importer of refined petrol in Africa and is now the biggest exporter of fuel in West Africa.
“This has not been funny for them because there is no more easy money, which is why they found harmony to go against their enemy.
“This is an anti-Tinubu party whose manifesto is to get Tinubu out of power so they can restore the fuel subsidy that made the elites richer without benefiting the poor.
“They are not happy that Nigeria is no longer the biggest importer of refined petrol in Africa and is now the biggest exporter of fuel in West Africa.
“This has not been funny for them because there is no more easy money, which is why they found harmony to go against their enemy.” He continued.
Highlighting the achievements of the Tinubu-led administration, Omokri held that the country’s national debt had over time reduced from $108.2 billion on May 29, 2023, to $94.2 billion today.
He also noted the tax reform, local government autonomy, and the National Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) amongst other achievements of the Tinubu.
Omokri urged Nigerians to take no heed to the coalition party he claimed formed by disgruntled politicians.
“Let me remind Nigerians what we have benefited under Tinubu, including:
“Our national debt has reduced from $108.2 billion on May 29, 2023, to $94.2 billion today. In Nigeria’s history, only two civilian governments have been able to reduce the nation’s indebtedness: the Obasanjo administration and now the Tinubu government.
” Local Government Autonomy, Tax Reform, Six hundred thousand students are benefiting from the Tinubu administration’s student loan initiative.
“These are young Nigerians who may not have had a university education but for Tinubu.
“Do we want to put all of these at risk simply because of some disgruntled politicians and their 1980s telephone is not for the poor mentality? I doubt that.” He added.
However, the ex-Presidential aide had since come under fire from Nigerians over the statement as one Instagram handler, Akinkunmi Akindele, in the comments, faulted Omokri’s claims, stressing that beyond Mark’s infamous statement, the Tinubu administration has made basic necessities unaffordable for the poor.
“Sir with all due respect, this your post about David Mark and
Aregbesola and the ADC coalition is not balanced. You said one of them once said telephones are not for the poor but sir look around today. Under Tinubu, it is food that is not for the poor. Rent is not for the poor. Education is not for the poor. Even transportation is not for the poor.
“So let us not act like it was only the past leaders that had that mentality sir. The suffering of the average Nigerian right now is real and present.” He wrote.
Akindele further dismissed Omokri’s claim of reduction in the country’s national debt as he held that the Naira has been devalued which made the $94 billions a huge amount of debt.
While admitted to the flaws of the coalition party, the Instagram user called for true leadership and not defense of hardship on account of loyalty.
“You also said debt has reduced from 108 billion dollars to 94 billion dollars sir. But the truth is that our naira has collapsed. The same debt that looks smaller in dollars has grown bigger in naira. We removed the subsidy but what did we put in place to ease the pain sir Nothing. It is like removing a bandage without treating the wound. And now everything is expensive and people are just managing to survive.
“Sir we are not saying the coalition is perfect or that we support David Mark or Aregbesola. No sir. But we the Nigerian youth are tired of being used as political shields. We do not want another 1980s style telephone party.
“But we also do not want people defending hardship just because it is their person in power. What we want sir is leadership not loyalty. Thank you sir.” He added.
Other netizens also faulted Omokri’s remark with some trolling him over his sentiment.
“Dem pay Reno well well sha… HE don turn Sergio Ramos for APC” @taye_taiwo47
“Throw stone very well, your boss lives in the glass house 😂”@authentic_khay
“Reno is a very hardworking employee. We must salute him for that”@ikedionyekwu
“How old is Ganduje and Tinubu. I will be praying for you o. God will punish those that this to you Sir.”@victorchidionyencho
“I can’t believe the man I respected so much turn something else just like that, saying all these without any positive impact to the masses, Fuel is so cost, food and other basic things to earn as a citizen in this country are really cost and you are saying invisible things that are not impactful to us, this country is ruined already”@qudox_achieve
“Never trust any words that comes from the desk of reno, he is not a man to be trusted. All this epistle is all because of his selfish interest.”@t_jayeju
“The said depth who borrow am and which people loot am? Is it not APC? How is it our concern that the depth has reduced. Is there a way it benefitted the common Nigerian? School children have been out of school for over 3 months in Abuja and Wike chose to build another office for INEC to make rigging in 2027 easier. That’s the government Reno Omokri want to defend.”@ekedokawisdom
“Am very sure that one day you will come out to be an unsolicited spokesman for ADC I trust you 😂”@brightawaziem
“@renoomokri the notorious political mercenary, you are just worthless”@real_cnote1.