Former presidential aide Reno Omokri has accused Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, of fueling division and misrepresenting facts in a bid to advance his presidential ambitions.
Omokri’s remarks, posted on his official X page, comes in response to Obi’s comments on a recent incident involving Ibom Air passenger, Comfort Emmanson, which Omokri claims Obi distorted to question the actions of Nigeria’s aviation authorities.
Omokri criticized Obi for lacking the rationality needed to lead Nigeria, alleging that the former Anambra governor is “desperate to be president” and willing to “say anything” to incite public unrest.
The controversy stems from an altercation on an Ibom Air flight from Uyo to Lagos, where Emmanson, a female passenger, reportedly refused to switch off her phone—claiming it was in flight mode—and assaulted a crew member.
She was swiftly arrested, charged, and remanded at Kirikiri Correctional Centre, with the Airline Operators of Nigeria imposing a lifetime no-fly ban on her.
Obi’s statement questioning the severity of her punishment and the aviation authorities’ response drew Omokri’s attention.
In his post, Omokri argued that Obi misrepresented the incident by ignoring International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) regulations, which classify disobeying airline crew instructions as a criminal offense.
“Once boarding is completed, you cannot deplane without security intervention,” Omokri wrote, citing protocols designed to prevent terrorism, such as planting explosives on aircraft.
He emphasized that Emmanson’s actions, including alleged violence, justified her arrest and ban, contrasting her case with that of Fuji musician K1 De Ultimate, who faced a no-fly ban for defying officials outside a ValueJet aircraft but was not prosecuted.
“Peter Obi is twisting facts to suit his agenda,” Omokri stated, accusing him of inciting the public with a statement “based on a wrong premise.”
He further criticized Obi’s leadership, pointing to a past debate where Obi denied defecting from political parties, claiming he “just left.” Omokri warned that Obi’s “cult following,” driven largely by ethnic loyalty, risks undermining Nigeria’s institutions if unchecked.
“Nigerians need a rational leader who follows facts and law, not someone who panders to emotions,” he added.
Omokri highlighted international precedents, noting that passengers in the U.S. and Europe have faced lifetime bans for lesser offenses, such as a British passenger fined $20,638 for disobeying crew or an American banned for inappropriate behavior on a flight.
He argued that Nigeria’s aviation authorities acted within their rights to penalize Emmanson, and Obi’s intervention could destabilize the country by heating the polity.
The controversy has sparked polarized reactions online. Supporters of Obi argue he is advocating for fairness, while critics align with Omokri, accusing Obi of exploiting sensitive issues for political gain.
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Reno is the devil
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