By Adesakin Adefemi
Reno Omokri, a former aide to President Goodluck Jonathan, has issued a statement clarifying his previous remarks about President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Omokri explained that he had made uncomplimentary comments about Tinubu when he was a presidential candidate, but later discovered that they were not true.
Omokri claimed that he publicly withdrew the statements in writing and on video through multiple platforms. He stated that on May 29, 2023, the day Tinubu was sworn in as President, he released a statement affirming Tinubu’s presidency and urging Nigerians to support him.
On October 26, 2023, the day the Supreme Court ruled in favour of Tinubu, Omokri accepted the verdict and stated that his stance on the statements he made against the President had changed. He said he believed the statements were false and apologized for them.
Omokri reiterated that he had sought a private audience with Tinubu on October 1, 2024, where he apologized in person and explained that he was misled by media publications.
He also referenced a TVC interview on October 28, 2023, where he affirmed the Supreme Court’s judgement and described it as “righteous”. Omokri further stated that he had appeared on Newscentral Television on March 27, 2025, and Politics Today on June 11, 2025, to reiterate his apology and withdrawal of the statements.
Omokri criticized Mr Omoyele Sowore, citing his attempt to rely on previous statements made by Omokri when they were believed to be true, but later found to be false and withdrawn.
He quoted Phipson on Evidence, stating that former statements by any person cannot be used as evidence of the truth of the matters asserted.
Omokri emphasized that Sowore cannot rely on statements made by him between 2022 and 2023, which were publicly withdrawn in 2023, as a defence for statements made in August 2025.
He concluded by affirming that President Tinubu is a person of good character and high moral standing, and is not, has never been, and will never be a drug lord.
Omokri stated that he is prepared to testify to the above under oath in court, along with documentary and dated evidence establishing the veracity of his affirmations.
