An American missionary, Mike Arnold, has written a strongly worded open letter to the Nigerian Senate, urging members to reject the ambassadorial nomination of controversial social media influencer and former presidential aide, Reno Omokri.
President Bola Tinubu recently forwarded Omokri’s name to the Senate for confirmation as a non-career ambassador, a move that has sparked widespread debate both within Nigeria and abroad.
“He Is a Danger to Your Country”
In the letter circulating widely on social media on Monday, Arnold, who claims to have spent significant time in Nigeria over the past decade, described Omokri as unfit for diplomatic office.
“I’ve seen this man up close. He is a danger to your country,” Arnold wrote.
Litany of Personal and Political Accusations
The missionary levelled multiple allegations against Omokri, including:
– Failing to attend his own father’s funeral
– Abandoning his autistic son in California
– Being accused of shielding a brother allegedly involved in the rape of a 15-year-old girl in church
– Facing sexual harassment allegations from Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan during a State House event
Arnold also accused Omokri of political flip-flopping.
“He called Tinubu a drug baron, then called him Christlike the moment the cheque cleared,” the letter stated. “He screamed ‘Christian genocide’ under Buhari, then called it a hoax under Tinubu.”
“Pathological Liar and Shape-Shifting Mercenary”
Describing Omokri as a “pathological” liar, Arnold warned that the former aide would switch allegiance the moment a higher bidder emerged.
“When a foreign government or lobby offers Reno more money tomorrow than Abuja does today, he will flip and sell out Nigeria the same way he sold out his father, his son, his wife, his political allies, his faith, and every principle he ever pretended to have,” the letter read.
Warning of International Embarrassment
Arnold argued that confirming Omokri would reinforce negative global stereotypes about Nigeria.
“The most damning international stereotype of Nigeria is the slick scammer,” he wrote. “The very nomination of Omokri… plays fully into that stereotype and de-markets the nation in a very corrosive way.”
He predicted that Omokri would “embarrass” Nigeria on the world stage within six months if confirmed.
