Political commentator and former presidential aide Reno Omokri has openly declared his intention to dismantle the Obidient movement, citing personal threats and a fallout with Peter Obi as the driving forces behind his decision.
Speaking on Breakfast Central on Thursday, Omokri dismissed claims that his opposition to Obi and his supporters stems from a personal vendetta.
Instead, he described his past role in Obi’s political rise and how his disillusionment led him to take a hard stance.
“I took a vow to destroy that movement because Peter Obi was a project of mine,” Omokri stated, recalling his efforts in shaping Obi’s national prominence.
According to him, alongside Senator Ben Murray-Bruce and a former president, he played a key role in securing Obi’s position as Atiku Abubakar’s running mate in the 2019 presidential election.
“I was responsible for Peter Obi becoming the running mate to Waziri Atiku Abubakar in 2019.
“I’ve said this publicly. I’ve got the documents. I’m a meticulous record keeper,” he claimed.
While Obi’s abrupt exit from the People’s Democratic Party without consulting his backers caused some friction, Omokri said the real turning point was the conduct of Obi’s supporters.
“Peter Obi’s movement, Obidients, started attacking me, threatening me, insulting me. That was OK.
“But then they moved from myself to my family. I just had a daughter at that time. There were multiple death threats,” he alleged, revealing that the harassment escalated into real-life encounters.
“They came to my house in the United Kingdom. They trailed my wife and me when we were jogging.
“They found out my jogging route and pursued me, threatening me,” he further alleged.
Omokri said he reached out to Obi, expecting him to intervene.
However, he claimed the former Labour Party presidential candidate refused to denounce a particular individual linked to the threats.
Feeling abandoned, Omokri made a firm decision, saying, “I had to deploy whatever political machinery I have to destroy that movement.”
