Your rhetoric encouraging ethnic violence,  Onoh tells Omokri

President Bola Tinubu’s former campaign spokesman in the south east, Dr. Josef Onoh, has accused a frequent social media user, Reno Omokri, of inciting Nigerians against the people of the South East through his habitual wrong narratives and profiling of Ndigbo. Onoh urged the Nigeria security agencies not to waste further time to arrest Omokri […]

President Bola Tinubu’s former campaign spokesman in the south east, Dr. Josef Onoh, has accused a frequent social media user, Reno Omokri, of inciting Nigerians against the people of the South East through his habitual wrong narratives and profiling of Ndigbo.

Onoh urged the Nigeria security agencies not to waste further time to arrest Omokri and give the same treatment as had been given to Sunday Igboho, Nnamdi Kanu, Asari Dokubo and Simon Ekpa.

Omokri had through the use of his social media handle, X, said that the real reason why Major Chukwuma Nzeogwu and his co coup plotters of January 15 1966 killed the late Sarduana of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello, was because Bello accused the Igbo of dominating other parts of Nigeria while it restricted the Eastern part of Nigeria from the people of other regions of the country.

Onoh however said that he was worried that Omokri has been left for too long in his course to bring about ethnic strife, particularly against the Igbo in Nigeria; reminding Omokri that the present unity of Nigeria was made with the blood of the people of Northern and Eastern Nigeria.

According to Onoh, it was shocking that Omokri chose the day, January 15, when Nigeria remembers their fallen heroes for national healing, to post his own controversial version on the historical relationship between Ahmadu Bello and Nzeogwu where he intentionally profiled the southeast in the provocative post.

Onoh said, “Omokri deceptively revisited one of our nations most sensitive and divisive chapters in history, while seemingly painting the two historic figures as bitter adversaries. Intentionally aimed at creating ethnic tension in the country.

“I condemn such inciting narratives from Reno Omokri or any charlatan who attempts to break our national unity.
I’m also totally dismayed at the silence of our south east leaders and elders in condemning such statement from Reno. Everything must not be about political interest at the detriment of your region. Once it’s time to give political appointments then they remember they are political stakeholder and South East elders yet right in front of you all a violent foundation is being promoted and you are all silent while we the young ones are now the guardians of wisdom. Your silence today will be your tears of tomorrow.

“I urge the DSS to immediately invite and interview the said truant and renegade character as his social media posts can be classified as same inciting statements made by Sunday Igboho, Nnamdi Kanu, Asari Dokubo and Simon Ekpa who the security agencies where quick to act.

“May I remind Nigerians, and security agencies that Reno Omokri’s social media post, however, is not a unique or even rare event, especially at a time of heavy polarization in the country drawn across ethnic divisions which several posts from the said character since 2023 presidential election has promoted.

“As a disloyal renegade attack dog, he had prior to now attacked various political leaders, especially President Bola Tinubu and Mr. Peter Obi at political and personal levels. The same Charlatan held a protest against President Bola Tinubu at Chatham House London where he called him names and accusations never before levelled against any Nigerian politician or aspirant.

“He has continuously attacked Peter Obi who ignored him and refused to dignify him with a response. His failed attempt to create an imaginary political division between the President and Mallam El-Rufai has resulted to a state of delusion and now opted to use violent rhetoric to demonize and create ethnic tension.o ‘fight like hell.’

“Critics of Trump, including his own acting Secretary of Defense, Chris Miller, blamed him for his remarks that caused the Capitol riot. Congress would then go on to impeach Trump a second time for inciting the violence. Same can be said of Mr.Omokri’s post. Incendiary rhetoric of Reno Omokri can make political violence more likely if not addressed.

“Mr Omokri’s post has simply given violence direction and complicates the law enforcement response, and increases fear in vulnerable ethnic region of the south east.”