Something is seriously wrong with this social media content creator called Peter Obi! Is the man okay at all? People died in Benue, and both the Federal and State Governments are actively seeking solutions, yet this Agbotikuyo is more concerned about the President’s clothes? Really?
Political commentator and former presidential aide, Reno Omokri, has lashed out at Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, over comments made regarding President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s attire during a condolence visit to Benue State. The state had recently suffered a massacre, prompting a visit from the President.
Peter Obi had expressed strong disapproval of what he described as President Tinubu’s “celebratory” appearance, stating that the President arrived at the grief-stricken community in an extravagant agbada outfit, which, in Obi’s view, did not reflect the somber nature of the occasion. He implied that such an outfit was inappropriate, likening it to attire for a joyful event rather than one meant to mourn tragic loss.
Obi’s remark stirred significant backlash, particularly from Reno Omokri, who took to social media to issue a scathing response. Omokri questioned Obi’s understanding of cultural and religious sensitivities, especially within a multi-religious society like Nigeria.
According to Omokri, “That Peter Obi criticised President Tinubu for not wearing black mourning clothes to Benue shows he knows nothing about Islam.”
He further stated, “Something is seriously wrong with this social media content creator called Peter Obi! Is the man okay at all? People died in Benue, and both the Federal and State Governments are actively seeking solutions, yet this Agbotikuyo is more concerned about the President’s clothes? Really?”
Omokri emphasized that Islam, the faith President Tinubu practices, does not subscribe to the tradition of wearing black garments as a sign of mourning. Instead, Islamic customs promote the use of white clothing, particularly for burial and mourning rituals.
He added, “Is Peter Obi even aware that President Tinubu is a Muslim? In Islam, it is not Sunnah to wear black when someone dies. It is haram. The Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasalaam) clearly encouraged the wearing of white in such circumstances. A hadith narrated by Ibn Abbas says, ‘Wear white clothes, for they are the best of your clothes, and shroud your dead in them.’”
Omokri also used the opportunity to question Obi’s perceived cultural bias and lack of inclusiveness.
“This is why I and others continue to say that Peter Obi lacks the broad-mindedness required to lead a diverse country like Nigeria. He is too narrowly focused on his own political, religious, and cultural beliefs and expects everyone else to conform.”
In a blistering critique, Omokri accused Obi of attempting to project his personal values as national standards:
“He wants everyone to follow his own limited cultural norms, regardless of their religious backgrounds. That’s the same reason why, during his 2022 campaign, he donated so-called prayer mats with his picture on them to mosques—completely tone-deaf and disrespectful.”
Omokri concluded by pointing out that even within Christianity, there is no doctrinal mandate requiring the wearing of black during funerals.
“The idea of wearing black is not scriptural; it’s a European cultural practice that has been blindly copied by people with undefined or poorly preserved indigenous cultures.”
By juxtaposing Islamic teachings, interreligious respect, and Obi’s political demeanor, Omokri firmly positioned the former Anambra governor’s statement as lacking both cultural empathy and religious understanding. The exchange underscores the broader tension between Nigeria’s religious and cultural pluralism and the expectations placed on national leaders to embody inclusive values.