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Reno Omokri

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Reno Omokri
Born1974 (age 49–50)
Nationality Nigeria
Alma mater
Occupations
  • Author
  • social media influencer

Reno Omokri (born 1974) is a Nigerian author and social media influencer.

Career

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Omokri is a Vice President of Joe Trippi and Associates, a U.S. political consulting firm.[1]

As the Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan,[2] he was noted for using social media to conduct surveys,[3] and draw attention to the projects of the Nigerian Government.[4]

In 2011, Omokri called for Nigerians living outside Nigeria, to endorse Jonathan for the 2011 elections.[5] Omokri was a signatory of a letter by a group known as G 57 that called for the resignation of Yar'adua.[6]

Between 2015 and 2016, Omokri was the host of Transformations With Reno Omokri, a Christian teaching program broadcast on Comcast, DISH Network and Roku. The 30 minutes weekly telecast was produced by the Mind of Christ Christian Center in California.[7]

Since 29 May 2015, Omokri has continued to be opposed to policies of the current Nigerian government, and has had conflicts with the Nigerian authorities.[8] He has also been a noted conservative, calling for a restoration of the moral fabric of society.[9]

Controversy

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On Tuesday, 12 October 2021, a female gubernatorial candidate for Kogi State, Natasha Akpoti alleged that Omokri had propositioned her on 6 May 2014, during a state banquet for Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta.[10]

In response, Omokri announced a $50,000 reward for anyone who could provide a photograph or video of him at the Uhuru Kenyatta banquet, and provided evidence in the form of a British Airways ticket, and Nigerian and American immigration stamps on his passport that proved he was not in the country during the said event. Natasha Akpoti, who accused him then deleted all traces of her accusation from her social media profiles.[10]

Advocacy

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Sports Betting Removal

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Omokri called for President Bola Tinubu to enact an Executive Order that would ban sports betting in Nigeria to make the Naira grow. The order would authorize the Nigerian Communications Commission to ban sports betting apps from the App Store of any GSM Internet Service Provider in Nigeria.[11] On Twitter, Omokri claimed that the sports betting industry negatively affects the Nigerian economy, gambling losses can lead Nigerian residents to commit petty crimes, and sports betting can negatively affect the youth, among other things.[12]

Buses for Democracy

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During Nigeria's 2019 general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission postponed the election previously scheduled to hold on Saturday 16 February 2019 by a week.[13] As the election postponement was announced only 5 hours before the polls were to open, Nigerians were angry since many travelled long distances to vote, only to be frustrated. As a result of their frustrations, Omokri initiated a program he tagged #BusesForDemocracy, which provided free transportation to voters to their polling unit irrespective of who they intended to vote for.[14]

Free Leah Sharibu movement

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Omokri is the founder of the Free Leah Sharibu movement,[15] a media campaign advocating for the freedom of Leah Sharibu,[16] a Christian girl who was kidnapped by the radical Islamic sect, Boko Haram, on February 19, 2018. Boko Haram offered to release Sharibu if she would convert to Islam, but she refused to do this.

On April 3, 2019, former British Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson MP, unveiled the #FreeLeahSharibu customised clothing line at his office at the British Parliament.[17] Through the clothing line and his book, Omokri raised over £4,000 for Miss Sharibu's parents.[18]

On April 11, 2019, Omokri wore the customised #FreeLeahSharibu tracksuit over Mount Everest in Nepal.[19]

On Saturday, November 2, 2019, Omokri was honoured with the Humanitarian of the Year award at the Hollywood Weekly Magazine Film Festival, at Warner Brothers Studio in Burbank, California, for his work on the #FreeLeahSharibu campaign.[20]

The song, Angels on Guard: A Song for Leah,[21] executive produced by Omokri, charted worldwide and was on rotation on radio stations.

#HarassBuhariOutofLondon

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On April 2, 2021, Omokri led a series of protests in London to force General Buhari to return to Nigeria, instead of relying on the UK for healthcare. Mr. Buhari had flown into London the previous day.[22]

#HarassBuhariOutofNewYork

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On Friday, September 24, 2021, Omokri led a protest against Nigeria's President Buhari in New York, where the latter was attending the Seventy-sixth session of the United Nations General Assembly. The New York Police Department were called on protesters by the Nigerian Consulate, but no arrest or intervention was made, as the protest was peaceful. However, after the protest, Mr. Omokri was trailed to his hotel by an assailant and attacked. He was only saved by his bodyguard, Mr. Sean Reilly, who wrestled the assailant, chased him away and called the police. The whole incident was caught on tape and covered by the media. The next day (Saturday, September 25, 2021), a pro-Buhari group issued a statement carried by the government leaning Daily Times, warning Mr. Omokri to expect more "deadly" attacks.[23]

#BuhariForPrison2023

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On Wednesday, November 17, 2021, Omokri initiated a petition on the change.org platform for the International Criminal court to prosecute and jail Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari for the #LekkiMassacre of peaceful, unarmed #EndSARS protesters, after the Lagos #EndSARS panel indicted the Buhari administration in its report.

In under 24 hours, 40,000 people had signed the petition, and by Friday, November 19, 2021, it had become the fastest signed petition of Nigerian origin, according to Nigeria's largest selling daily newspaper, The Punch.[24][25]

Awards

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In April 2022, Omokri received the Business Influencer of the Year award in the Business Insider Africa awards from Business Insider, an American financial and business news website, after securing 74.67% of over 200,000 votes. He was congratulated by former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.[26][27]

On December 21, 2024, Omokri was named the 21st most talked about person in Africa by Top Charts, using Google algorithms.

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Publications

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  • Poverty Is A Choice
  • Shunpiking: No Shortcuts to God. Deep River Books, 2013. ISBN 978-1937756895.
  • Why Jesus Wept. RevMedia, 2015. ISBN 978-0990476450.
  • Apples of Gold (a book of Godly wisdom). Mind of Christ Christian Center, 2017. ISBN 978-0-9981829-4-0.
  • Facts Versus Fiction: The True Story of the Jonathan Years, Chibok, 2015 and the Conspiracies. Mind of Christ Christian Center, 2017. ISBN 978-0998182933

References

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  1. ^ Imam, Imam (16 September 2010). "North: Jonathan's Declaration'll Set Bad Precedent". This Day. Lagos, Nigeria. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
  2. ^ "Reno Omokri: Amaechi is a liar... Jonathan left $28.6bn external reserves". TheCable. 2021-12-28. Retrieved 2022-03-19.
  3. ^ Agency, Reporter (12 August 2012). "Jonathan seeks feedback from Nigerians on power supply". The Punch. Lagos, Nigeria. Archived from the original on 19 September 2012. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
  4. ^ "Jonathan places Nigerian flag designer, Pa. Akinkunmi on a 'life salary'". Vanguard. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  5. ^ Okoli, Anayo. "2011: Nigerians In Diaspora Back Jonathan". This Day. Lagos Nigeria. Archived from the original on 4 February 2013. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
  6. ^ Ujah, Emma (1 January 2010). "Sack Yar'Adua, G-57 tells N-Assembly". Vanguard Newspaper (Lagos, Nigeria). Retrieved 8 September 2012.
  7. ^ "Omokri lands US TV deal". Vanguard Newspapers. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  8. ^ "Controversy Trails Buhari's Launch of NAF Indigenous Unmanned Aerial Vehicle". Thisday Newspaper. Thisday. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
  9. ^ "Reactions trail sex scene aired on BBNaija". The Nation Newspapers. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
  10. ^ a b Olu, Tayo. "Natasha Akpoti Deletes Facebook Post As Omokri Offers $50,000 Reward To Anyone With Photo Evidence Of Him At 2014 State Banquet". The Whistler. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  11. ^ Crown, Brett (2024-01-04). "Reno Omokri Calls For Ban Of Nigeria Sports Betting Sites". LegalSportsBetting.com. Retrieved 2024-01-05.
  12. ^ "Reno Omokri on X: "President Tinubu can immediately improve the economic conditions of most Nigerians and make the Naira grow by issuing an Executive Order authorising the Nigerian Communications Commission to ban sports betting apps from the App Store of any GSM Internet Service Provider in…" / X".
  13. ^ Makinde, Femi (24 February 2019). "Politics of election postponement and matters arising". The Punch. Punch Newspapers Limited. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  14. ^ "Passengers with a voter's card are given free travel so they can return home to vote" (audio). BBC News. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  15. ^ "Reno Omokri blasts Keyamo for saying Buhari doesn't need certificate to rule". Adesina Michael. PMNews. Retrieved 15 April 2019.
  16. ^ "Toblerone bars used in campaign for release of abducted Nigerian teenager Leah Sharibu". Confectionery Production. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
  17. ^ "Fighting for Leah Sharibu". Press Reader. Retrieved 15 April 2019.
  18. ^ "Oritsejafor, Nenadi Usman buy 'Free Leah Sharibu' T-shirt, pay to parents". The Punch. Retrieved 15 April 2019.
  19. ^ "PHOTOS: Omokri takes campaign to free Leah Sharibu to Mount Everest". Jamilah Nasir. The Cable. Retrieved 15 April 2019.
  20. ^ "Atiku Congratulates Omokri on Humanitarian Award". Thisday Newspaper. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  21. ^ "Angels on Guard: A Song for Leah". YouTube. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
  22. ^ "'Buhari Go Home' protest outside Nigerian High Commission in London". Yahoo! News. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  23. ^ Ada, Ada. ""More deadly attacks await you" – Youth Coalition hails assault on Reno Omokri". Daily Times NG. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  24. ^ Oyeleke, Sodiq (19 November 2021). "Lekki tollgate: Over 76,400 sign petition to jail Buhari after Lagos EndSARS panel report". Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  25. ^ Adelagun, Oluwakemi. "Lagos #EndSARS Report: Nearly 80,000 people sign petition to prosecute Buhari". Premium Times. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  26. ^ "Omokri Wins Business Insider 'Business Influencer of the Year' Award". Thisday Newspaper. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  27. ^ "Here are the winners of the inaugural Business Insider Africa Awards". Business Insider Africa. 12 April 2022. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
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