Reno Omokri, a former presidential aide and ambassador-designate, has accused Peter Obi — a leading figure in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) — of being desperate to become Nigeria’s president “at all costs.”
In a social media post, Omokri alleged that Obi has been using recent fire outbreaks around the country to criticise the Federal Government, while remaining silent about similar tragedies in the South-East. He claimed Obi frequently comments on fires outside the Igbo-speaking region but did not publicly respond to two major incidents in Anambra State.
Omokri pointed to a fire at Trano Rentals Hotel in Isuaniocha, Awka North, on January 1, and an earlier blaze during a Christmas carnival in Umuchu, Aguata Local Government Area, on December 30, 2025, saying both events resulted in multiple fatalities. He suggested Obi’s selective responses reflect political calculation rather than consistent concern.
The allegation is Omokri’s assessment of Obi’s public reactions; Obi has not been quoted here responding to the claim.
Omokri contrasted this with what he described as Obi’s prompt reactions to fire outbreaks in states such as Lagos, Kano, Niger, Plateau, Katsina, Zamfara, and Sokoto, arguing that the pattern appeared selective and driven by political considerations.
He further alleged that Obi’s comments encourage ethnic and regional divisions, maintaining that many of the fire incidents were the result of environmental or accidental factors rather than failures of government. Omokri claimed that Obi’s political ambition has, in his view, affected his ability to express sympathy without apportioning blame, characterising his approach as divisive.
Omokri also criticised Obi’s reference to an alleged “surge” in fire incidents, saying it was an attempt to score political points rather than offer compassion to victims. “Peter Obi blaming a ‘surge’ of fire incidents on the government is a sad display of tribalism, sectionalism, desperation and ignorance,” Omokri wrote, adding that Obi chose to blame the government for incidents he said were largely driven by environmental conditions.
