“You’re a trader, not a leader” — Reno Omokri blasts Peter Obi for questioning Tinubu’s whereabouts

Former presidential aide Reno Omokri has criticised former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi over claims that President Bola Tinubu has abandoned governance by staying abroad for long periods.

Omokri reacted to Obi’s post on X on Monday, where Obi questioned the President’s whereabouts and described his extended foreign stay as neglect of duty.

Omokri Accuses Obi of Misleading Nigerians

In a response on X, Omokri accused Obi of spreading false information and deliberately misleading Nigerians about the President’s location and activities.

“I read your most recent attack on the President, and it was a new low, even for you, and grossly irresponsible. Saying that nobody knows where the President is is a lie,” Omokri said.

He added that the Presidency had been open about Tinubu’s movements, insisting that Nigerians were fully informed through official channels.

According to Omokri, President Tinubu is currently in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, attending the 2026 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, which was publicly announced.

He also dismissed Obi’s claim that Nigerians had not heard from the President since December 2025, describing it as completely untrue.

Omokri recalled that Tinubu addressed the nation in a New Year’s Day broadcast and held several public engagements in late December 2025.

“Before that, the President visited Nigerian citizens in Borno, Bauchi and Lagos States between December 21 and December 23, 2025,” he stated.

He noted that Tinubu attended the wedding of Sadeeq Sheriff, son of former Borno State Governor Ali Modu Sheriff, during his visit to Maiduguri.

Omokri said the President also travelled to Bauchi to condole with the family of Islamic scholar Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi before proceeding to Lagos.

“After that, he went on a short vacation as allowed by the Constitution,” Omokri added.

He described Obi’s claims as dishonest and unfair, arguing that the President’s actions did not amount to neglect.

Defence of Tinubu’s Foreign Travels

Addressing criticism of Tinubu’s foreign trips, Omokri said Obi showed little understanding of governance and international diplomacy.

“Your mentor, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, spent 342 days travelling abroad in eight years, yet you celebrate him,” he wrote.

Omokri said Obasanjo’s trips helped Nigeria secure debt relief, despite security challenges during that period.

He argued that foreign travel was essential for attracting investments and said Tinubu’s trips were already producing results.

Omokri cited Tinubu’s attendance at the BRICS Summit in Brazil, which he linked to a $2.5 billion investment by Brazilian meat producer JBS.

He also mentioned Tinubu’s visit to Qatar, where investors reportedly pledged $300 billion in investments to Nigeria.

According to Omokri, these engagements contributed to economic growth, including a rise in Nigeria’s GDP from ₦269.29 trillion in May 2023 to ₦372.8 trillion.

He added that foreign portfolio investments rose to nearly $14 billion between the first and third quarters of 2025.

“All of these saw Nigeria recording a projected GDP growth of 4.1 per cent in 2025,” Omokri said.

He concluded by stating that Obi’s comments showed a lack of leadership capacity.

“That you do not know this is proof, once again, that you are a trader, not a leader,” Omokri added.