THIS DAWN — The ambassadorial nomination of Mr. Reno Omokri hit another brick stone following a strongly worded appeal from an American citizen, Mike Arnold.
Arnold urged the Nigerian Senate to reject the candidacy of Reno Omokri, saying he knows him too well.
Arnold, who described Nigeria as his “second home,” warned that Omokri’s appointment would damage the country’s international reputation and reinforce negative stereotypes abroad.
In a statement circulated in Abuja, Arnold claimed to have observed Omokri “up close” and insisted that he is “a danger to your country.”
He listed a series of allegations against the nominee, including claims that:
- Omokri failed to attend his father’s funeral,
- abandoned his autistic son in California, and,
- was publicly accused of shielding his brother in a sexual assault case involving a minor.
Arnold also referenced accusations of sexual harassment leveled against Omokri by Senator Natasha Akpoti during a State House event.
Beyond personal allegations, Arnold highlighted Omokri’s shifting political positions.
He noted that Omokri once branded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu a “drug baron” but later described him as “Christlike” after aligning with the administration.
Christian genocide under Buhari, hoax under Tinubu
Similarly, Arnold pointed to Omokri’s reversal on the issue of alleged Christian persecution under former President Muhammadu Buhari, where he initially spoke of “genocide” but later dismissed the claims as a hoax under Tinubu.
Arnold said: “He screamed “Christian genocide” under Buhari, then called it a hoax under Tinubu.
“He lies calm, cool, and constantly. Pathological… This is no diplomat!” he declared.
He then described Omokri as a “shape-shifting mercenary” who “sells his tongue to the highest bidder and his soul to the nearest camera.”
He warned that Omokri’s loyalty could be compromised if foreign interests offered greater incentives than Abuja.
This, he said, will potentially lead to Nigeria’s embarrassment on the global stage within months of his appointment.
Damaging international stereotypes
Arnold further argued that Omokri’s nomination plays into damaging international stereotypes of Nigerians as “slick scammers,” a narrative he said undermines the nation’s credibility.
“The very nomination of Omokri for this important post de-markets the nation in a corrosive way,” he stated.
He urged lawmakers to deny the nomination in defense of Nigeria’s dignity.
Concluding his appeal, Arnold insisted that Nigeria “deserves better than a paid liar who wouldn’t even bury his own father.”
His intervention adds to mounting criticism from political figures and civil society groups who have questioned the wisdom of Omokri’s inclusion on the ambassadorial list.
The Senate is expected to deliberate on the nominations in the coming weeks, with Omokri’s candidacy now facing heightened scrutiny both at home and abroad.
