Ambassador-designate Reno Omokri has explained why he accepted an offer of appointment from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration despite previously criticising the President, saying his decision was driven by his commitment to serve Nigeria.
Omokri, a former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, spoke on Wednesday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he addressed concerns over what many described as a dramatic shift in his stance on Tinubu.
He clarified that he never ruled out working for Nigeria, even if he had expressed reservations about working directly with Tinubu in the past.
“That’s not what I said,” Omokri stated when reminded of his previous comments. “The question you asked me was that if Tinubu asked me to work with him, would I accept? I said no, it’s not in my DNA.
“However, I never said I cannot work for Nigeria. As an ambassador, I’m going to work for Nigeria. I will be an ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
According to him, during discussions with government officials, he was clear about the limitations imposed by his past statements.
“When I met with the administration’s officials, I said I can’t take certain positions because of certain things that I said earlier. However, I told them I can do this role because I will be working for the country,” he said.
Recall that Omokri’s nomination was part of the list of ambassadorial nominees released by President Tinubu in late 2025.
The non-career list featured several prominent figures, including former INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu, former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode, ex-Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, Senator Ita Enang, former Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, and Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, among others.
The former critic, who has recently become a vocal supporter of the president, said his perspective on Tinubu has evolved.
“You know what? I cannot say everything. During our discussions, I explicitly said, ‘I cannot do this or that because of the positions I’ve held and the statements I’ve made.’
“However, I told them I can do this role because I will be working for the country.”
“My position on President Tinubu has changed. I believe he is the best thing for Nigeria,” Omokri said.
He maintained that his new diplomatic role would be focused solely on advancing Nigeria’s interests abroad.