Social media influencer and former presidential media aide Reno Omokri has vowed to respect President Bola Tinubu after the president publicly felicitated him in commemoration of his 50th birthday celebrated on January 22.
In a statement released by his spokesman Ajuri Ngelale, Tinubu commended Mr Omokri “for his dutifulness in providing constructive opinions on national issues, regardless of his political disposition.”
Omokri, a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, was the special assistant on digital media to former President Goodluck Jonathan from 2011 to 2015.
Omokri celebrated his birthday in Kenya. Among those who were present to celebrate with him were former governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke; Senator Ben Murray-Bruce, British actor, Wale Ojo; and gospel musician, Panam Percy Paul.
In his reaction to Tinubu’s message, Omokri hailed the president on Friday on social media for openly associating with him.
“Let me especially thank President Bola Tinubu for celebrating me on my birthday. The President of Nigeria has shown that he is a father to all, irrespective of their political affiliations. He chose to openly associate with me on my fiftieth birthday, even as some only privately acknowledged me,” he wrote.
Tinubu felicitates critic-turned-supporter Reno Omokri at 50
“Bola Tinubu understands power and relationship building. He is a man who will not let others deter him from doing what he sets his mind to do when he chooses. In my book, he eminently deserves to be where God has put him today.
“I will only be fifty once in my life, and God has blessed me with enough for my need and even where I to have greed, there is plenty for that, too. However, money cannot buy the respect of the President of my country. And since President Tinubu respected me, I will respect him and his government while remaining where I am politically.”
Omokri added that Tinubu’s ability to forgive, anticipate betrayal and, prepare ahead, and then take steps to reach out to those who were not hitherto for him is commendable.
“If politics is about addition (and it is), then I must add that Bola Tinubu is the Master of the Game,” he said.
