Former presidential aide, Reno Omokri, has commended President Bola Tinubu for the significant strides made in his 22 months in office, noting improvements in the lives of Nigerians under his leadership.
Omokri also praised former President Muhammadu Buhari’s recent affirmation of loyalty to the ruling All Progressives Congress, which contradicted claims by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai. El-Rufai, who defected from the APC to the Social Democratic Party last week, had asserted that Buhari gave him approval for his move.
However, Buhari’s media aide, Mallam Garba Shehu, reiterated that the former president remained loyal to the APC.
“My impression of General Muhammadu Buhari changed for the better after he released his statement restating his loyalty and commitment to the APC, discountenancing el-Rufai, who had tried to use clever rhetoric to project the illusion that the former president was tacitly behind his move to the SDP,” Omokri said in a statement on Friday.
He further emphasized that Buhari’s reaffirmation of his loyalty to the party recognized the significant achievements made by President Tinubu.
Omokri highlighted several of these accomplishments, including the ongoing construction of the Sokoto-Badagry Highway, which has now reached Kebbi from Sokoto State, and the nearing completion of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway approaching Ondo State. He also noted a drop in fuel prices, now averaging ₦850 per litre, and the disbursement of student loans to 400,000 students.
“The minimum wage is now ₦70,000. Food prices are dropping slightly, while inflation reduced significantly from 34.80 per cent to 24.48 per cent in January 2025. Power generation is at an all-time high of 6,003MW, the highest in our history,” Omokri added.
The former aide also pointed out other key economic successes, including a 209.6 per cent increase in Nigeria’s trade surplus, which reached ₦18.86 trillion in 2024, up from ₦6.09 trillion in 2023.
Omokri went on to mention that Nigeria’s federal allocations to states have doubled, and in some cases, tripled, while terrorism-related deaths have hit their lowest levels since 2014. He also noted a 3.8 per cent GDP growth in the fourth quarter of 2024.
In addition to these developments, Omokri remarked on the creation of new regional development commissions, which he said would accelerate growth in various zones of the country. He stated that Nigerians are earning more, learning more, and are safer than in 2023, with increased power generation as well.
Omokri dismissed efforts by el-Rufai and former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, to form a coalition against President Tinubu, stressing that these crucial advancements should be recognized and supported by all Nigerians.
He also praised Buhari for prioritizing loyalty to the country over ethnicity, highlighting that the former president’s unwavering support for his successor, despite challenges, demonstrated integrity. Omokri recalled that even during difficult times, such as the killing of Mrs. Funke Olakunrin, daughter of Pa Reuben Fasorantin, a prominent Yoruba leader, Tinubu remained loyal to Buhari, despite strong criticism from some Yoruba factions.
Omokri noted that President Tinubu has refrained from criticizing Buhari since assuming office, despite revelations that could have caused friction between the two leaders. He expressed gratitude for Buhari’s choice to align with Tinubu rather than with a figure like el-Rufai, who, according to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, has shown “an inability to be loyal to anybody or any issue consistently for long, but only to Nasir el-Rufai.”
In conclusion, Omokri admitted that his initial perception of Buhari was incorrect, acknowledging that the former president had demonstrated honor and courage in his actions. He added that Buhari’s reaffirmed support for the APC would discourage other party members who might have been misled by el-Rufai’s statements.