Reno Omokri

Omokri was a Vice President of Joe Trippi and Associates, a U.S. political consulting firm.{{cite news|url=http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/north-jonathan-s-declaration-ll-set-bad-precedent/78737/|title=North: Jonathan's Declaration'll Set Bad Precedent|last=Imam|first=Imam|date=16 September 2010|newspaper=This Day|location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=8 September 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006095207/http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/north-jonathan-s-declaration-ll-set-bad-precedent/78737/|archivedate=6 October 2014}}

As the Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan,{{Cite web |date=2021-12-28 |title=Reno Omokri: Amaechi is a liar... Jonathan left $28.6bn external reserves |url=https://www.thecable.ng/reno-omokri-amaechi-is-a-liar-jonathan-left-28-6bn-external-reserves |access-date=2022-03-19 |website=TheCable |language=en-US}} he was noted for using social media to conduct surveys,{{cite news|url=http://www.punchng.com/business/jonathan-seeks-feedback-from-nigerians-on-power-supply/|title=Jonathan seeks feedback from Nigerians on power supply|last=Agency|first=Reporter|date=12 August 2012|newspaper=The Punch|location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=8 September 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120919015241/http://www.punchng.com/business/jonathan-seeks-feedback-from-nigerians-on-power-supply/|archivedate=19 September 2012}} and draw attention to the projects of the Nigerian Government.{{cite news|url=http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/09/jonathan-places-nigerian-flag-designer-pa-akinkunmi-life-salary/|title=Jonathan places Nigerian flag designer, Pa. Akinkunmi on a 'life salary'|accessdate=29 September 2014|website=Vanguard}}

In 2011, Omokri called for Nigerians living outside Nigeria, to endorse Jonathan for the 2011 elections.{{cite news|url=http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/2011-nigerians-in-diaspora-back-jonathan/71150/|title=2011: Nigerians In Diaspora Back Jonathan|last=Okoli|first=Anayo|newspaper=This Day|location=Lagos Nigeria|accessdate=9 September 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130204060914/http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/2011-nigerians-in-diaspora-back-jonathan/71150/|archivedate=4 February 2013}} Omokri was a signatory of a letter by a group known as G 57 that called for the resignation of Yar'adua.{{cite news|last=Ujah|first=Emma|title=Sack Yar'Adua, G-57 tells N-Assembly|url=http://www.vanguardngr.com/2010/01/sack-yaradua-g-57-tells-n-assembly/|accessdate=8 September 2012|newspaper=Vanguard Newspaper (Lagos, Nigeria)|date=1 January 2010}}

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.{{cite news|title=Omokri lands US TV deal|url=http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/06/omokri-lands-us-tv-deal/|accessdate=26 June 2015|publisher=Vanguard Newspapers}}

Since 29 May 2015, Omokri has continued to be opposed to the policies of the current Nigerian government and has had conflicts with the Nigerian authorities.{{cite web|title=Controversy Trails Buhari's Launch of NAF Indigenous Unmanned Aerial Vehicle|url=https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2018/02/17/controversy-trails-buharis-launch-of-naf-indigenous-unmanned-aerial-vehicle/|website=Thisday Newspaper|publisher=Thisday|accessdate=17 February 2018}} He has also been a noted conservative, calling for a restoration of the moral fabric of society.{{cite news|title=Reactions trail sex scene aired on BBNaija|url=http://thenationonlineng.net/reactions-trail-sex-scene-aired-on-bbnaija/|accessdate=1 March 2018|agency=The Nation Newspapers}}

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.{{cite web |last1=Olu |first1=Tayo |title=Natasha Akpoti Deletes Facebook Post As Omokri Offers $50,000 Reward To Anyone With Photo Evidence Of Him At 2014 State Banquet |url=https://thewhistler.ng/natasha-akpoti-deletes-facebook-post-as-omokri-offers-50000-reward-to-anyone-with-photo-evidence-of-him-at-2014-state-banquet/ |website=The Whistler |access-date=20 October 2021}}

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.

On New Year's Day 2025, Reno Omokri became the first Nigerian citizen to abseil down the Victoria Falls and climb back up with nothing other than ropes and a harness. He did this to promote awareness for Africans to travel within Africa.

The [https://guardian.ng/news/omokri-makes-history-with-victoria-falls-abseil-climb/ feat] was captured on video and James Chinotimba, the Manager of Abseil Victoria Falls, witnessed, documented, and verified the record with his staff.

The extreme adventure traveller is previously known for hiking up the Inca Trails in Machu Picchu, Peru, and the treacherous slopes of the Phnom Kulen mountain range of Cambodia. Mr. Omokri also hiked in Nepal and flew over Mount Everest in 2019.

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. 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.{{Cite web |title=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 |url=https://twitter.com/renoomokri/status/1742495980568612919}}

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.{{cite web|url=https://punchng.com/politics-of-election-postponement-and-matters-arising/|title=Politics of election postponement and matters arising|first=Femi|last=Makinde|date=24 February 2019|website=The Punch|publisher=Punch Newspapers Limited|access-date=18 March 2022}} 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. He loves President Tinubu's administration.{{cite news |title=Passengers with a voter's card are given free travel so they can return home to vote |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p071l6v1 |accessdate=22 February 2019 |publisher=BBC News|format=audio}}

Omokri is the founder of the Free Leah Sharibu movement,{{cite news |title=Reno Omokri blasts Keyamo for saying Buhari doesn't need certificate to rule |url=https://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2019/04/15/reno-omokri-blasts-keyamo-for-saying-buhari-dont-need-certificate-to-rule/ |accessdate=15 April 2019 |agency=PMNews |publisher=Adesina Michael}} a media campaign advocating for the freedom of Leah Sharibu,{{cite web |title=Toblerone bars used in campaign for release of abducted Nigerian teenager Leah Sharibu |url=https://www.confectioneryproduction.com/news/30809/toblerone-bars-used-in-campaign-for-release-of-abducted-nigerian-teenager-leah-sharibu/ |website=Confectionery Production |accessdate=7 August 2020}} 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.{{cite web |title=Fighting for Leah Sharibu |url=https://www.pressreader.com/nigeria/thisday/20190404/281505047586016 |publisher=Press Reader |accessdate=15 April 2019}} Through the clothing line and his book, Omokri raised over £4,000 for Miss Sharibu's parents.{{cite news |title=Oritsejafor, Nenadi Usman buy 'Free Leah Sharibu' T-shirt, pay to parents |url=https://punchng.com/oritsejafor-nenadi-usman-others-buy-free-leah-sharibu-t-shirt-pay-to-parents-reno-omokri/ |accessdate=15 April 2019 |agency=The Punch}}

On April 11, 2019, Omokri wore the customised #FreeLeahSharibu tracksuit over Mount Everest in Nepal.{{cite news |title=PHOTOS: Omokri takes campaign to free Leah Sharibu to Mount Everest |url=https://www.thecable.ng/photos-omokri-takes-campaign-to-free-leah-sharibu-to-mount-everest |accessdate=15 April 2019 |agency=The Cable |publisher=Jamilah Nasir}}

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.{{cite news |title=Atiku Congratulates Omokri on Humanitarian Award |url=https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/10/20/atiku-congratulates-omokri-on-humanitarian-award/ |accessdate=3 November 2019 |agency=Thisday Newspaper}}

The song, Angels on Guard: A Song for Leah,{{cite web |title=Angels on Guard: A Song for Leah |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0b9QevYuof4 |publisher=YouTube |access-date=17 February 2022}} executive produced by Omokri, charted worldwide and was on rotation on radio stations.

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.{{cite web |title='Buhari Go Home' protest outside Nigerian High Commission in London |url=https://uk.news.yahoo.com/video/buhari-home-protest-outside-nigerian-110000585.html?guccounter=1 |website=Yahoo! News |access-date=3 April 2021}}

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.{{cite news |last1=Ada |first1=Ada |title="More deadly attacks await you" – Youth Coalition hails assault on Reno Omokri |url=https://dailytimesng.com/more-deadly-attacks-await-you-youth-coalition-hails-assault-on-reno-omokri/?fbclid=IwAR2zYVTgNtWJcFVXJBhxyhKHAIZG2Gcu0r8FBX8IAq2-9cJFJ6quLB7lENQ |access-date=26 September 2021 |agency=Daily Times NG}}

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.{{cite web |last1=Oyeleke |first1=Sodiq |title=Lekki tollgate: Over 76,400 sign petition to jail Buhari after Lagos EndSARS panel report |date=19 November 2021 |url=https://punchng.com/lekki-tollgate-over-76400-sign-petition-to-jail-buhari-after-lagos-endsars-panel-report/?amp |access-date=20 November 2021}}{{cite web |last1=Adelagun |first1=Oluwakemi |title=Lagos #EndSARS Report: Nearly 80,000 people sign petition to prosecute Buhari |url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/ssouth-west/496268-lagos-endsars-report-nearly-80000-people-sign-petition-to-prosecute-buhari.html |website=Premium Times |access-date=20 November 2021}}

A Federal High Court on January 30, 2025, vacated a remand order filed against Omokri by Pastor Paul Enenche of Dunamis International Gospel Centre.{{Cite news |last=Fellow Press |date=January 30, 2025 |title=Court Vacates Pastor Enenche’s Remand Order Against Omokri |url=https://www.fellowpress.com/court-vacates-pastor-enenches-remand-order-against-omokri/ |url-status=live}} The ruling, delivered by Chief Magistrate Emmanuel Iyanna, ordered Omokri’s name to be removed from the First Information Report (FIR). Omokri had criticised Enenche for partisan politics from the pulpit during the 2023 Nigerian elections. He claimed that Enenche used his influence to campaign for Labour Party’s Peter Obi, an act he described as violating church registration laws and the Electoral Act.

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.{{cite web |title=Omokri Wins Business Insider 'Business Influencer of the Year' Award |url=https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2022/04/12/omokri-wins-business-insider-business-influencer-of-the-year-award/ |website=Thisday Newspaper |access-date=12 April 2022}}{{cite web |title=Here are the winners of the inaugural Business Insider Africa Awards |url=https://africa.businessinsider.com/local/leaders/here-are-the-winners-of-the-inaugural-business-insider-africa-awards/hjz4cq5.amp |website=Business Insider Africa |date=12 April 2022 |access-date=12 April 2022}}

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

|url=https://x.com/africafactszone/status/1870573284129210727?s=48

• 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}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{Twitter}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20120821204313/http://buildupnigeria.com/ Build Up Nigeria]

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Category:Living people

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