Omokri also said he prefers Atiku to Obi because job creation is paramount in Nigeria and the former vice president is better in that aspect
By Kehinde Okeowo
Reno Omokri, human rights activist and former aide to Goodluck Jonathan, has claimed his father restored the stolen mandate of former Anambra governor, Peter Obi after he was denied by two lower courts.
The lawyer made the assertion via his Instagram page while replying a fan who accused him of disliking the Labour Party presidential candidate because he felt he does not stand a chance of getting a political appointment if he wins.
Dismissing the allegation, Reno said he is quite close to Peter Obi and if he wins the election, he is likely to be one of those he would consider for a job.
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Reno said, “Let’s consider some facts. Peter Obi was cheated out of his Governorship by irregular impeachment. He went to court. He lost in the lower courts and then appealed to the Court of Appeals. The man who restored his mandate to him at the Appeals Court on March 15, 2006, was Justice Jean Omokri, my father! God used my father to return Peter Obi to office. Peter Obi knows me to my house. I know him to his house.
“We meet in London, in America and Dubai. If anybody will give me a post, it will be Peter.
“But that is not how I operate. You guys are so rigid and believe that if anybody is not supporting Peter, they have collected money.
The former presidential aide went on to say he has nothing personal against the Labour party candidate, saying he supported him when Atiku made him the vice-presidential candidate in the last general election.
He also said had Obi stayed in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), he would have been made Atiku’s deputy by the opposition party. He went on to debunk claims that the former governor is a bigot.
Omikri added, “Who told you I don’t support Peter Obi? Please ask him how he became HE Atiku’s vice in 2019. He is straightforward. He will not lie. I support Peter. I believe he will make an excellent President. I have always maintained that and never wavered. However, I prefer Atiku to him. I wish he stayed in our party. He would have been the VP nominee.
“As per Peter being a bigot, that is very false. That was an APC propaganda used against him in 2019. Peter’s wife is not even Igbo. He married her at a time when it was almost inconceivable for an Igbo man to marry outside his ethnic group. That alone proves he is not an ethnic bigot. He even resonates with some Northern Muslims, because he is not a bigot.’
On why he preferred Atiku to Obi, the social commentator said, given the track record of both men, he believes the former Vice President will create more jobs than his younger counterpart.
He also counselled Obi’s supporters against using derogatory words on perceived opponents, as he claimed he would have been his third choice if Akitu was not contesting.
Revealing his only issue with Peter Obi, Reno said “My only issue with Peter is that I prefer Atiku to him. If this election was like a JAMB form, where you pick your first, second, and third choice. Atiku would be my first and second choices. Peter would be my third choice!”
“I support Atiku because he is a job creator. He founded Intels in 1988. Before he became Vice President in 1999, Intels was the biggest port logistic firm in Africa and was worth close to a billion dollars. Please research it. Through that company and other companies in his Priam group, Atiku employs more people than many state governments.
“Nigeria needs jobs for our youths to end unemployment, without which we can’t end insecurity. And I believe Atiku is better placed than Peter Obi to achieve that. That is my choice. Please respect it without accusing me of collecting money or seeking appointments.
“Be careful the types of things you, his supporters, say. Peter respects me and will never use the type of derogatory words you just used on me to describe me. You may mean well, but many times you alienate Peter from people who can help him. Thank you and may God bless you.”