“Omokri Has No Shame, Has Wretched Upbringing” – El-Rufai”

By Adesina Soyooye

In response to the serious allegations made against him by Reno Omokri, Nasir El-Rufai, the immediate past Governor of Kaduna State, has, literally, dismissed him as one beneath contempt. El-Rufai had some choice words for one of the worst critics of President Bola Tinubu who, to the shock of not a few people, turned around, 360 degrees, as soon as Tinubu was sworn into office and became his admirer and strong defender.

Said El-Rufai in his description of Omokri’s character: “Omokri lacks total shamelessness, has wretched upbringing, and intensely craves for quick easy money.”

To attract this description, Omokri had thrown himself  smack in the middle of El-Rufai’s criticism of the President Tinubu Government. El-Rufai had urged Nigerians to vote Tinubu out in 2027. He also clarified  his non-clearance by the Senate for a Ministerial position when he appeared before the members. He said they adhered to the President’s order not to clear him.Ironically,  El-Rufai said it was Tinubu who publicly begged him to be in his Government, discussed with him over a period of two months, told him he would be his Government’s Minister for Power, but inexplicably changed his mind and ordered his non-clearance by the Senate.

Throwing himself into it, Omokri responded that El-Rufai was not cleared because “he is a diplomatic baggage.” He also accused El-Rufai of perpetrating genocide in Southern Kaduna when he was the Governor of Kaduna State and had admitted to paying killer-herdsmen. Omokri said more:

“Nasir el-Rufai’s government was indicted in the Zaria Shiite massacre of Saturday, December 12, 2015, where 438 Shiite men, women, children and infants were slaughtered in one of Africa’s worst human rights violations.

“Additionally, Mr. El-Rufai was specifically cited for demolishing the homes of his political opponents in Kaduna.

“Finally, his reckless utterances against Christians, whereby on Saturday, January 27, 2013, he insulted Jesus Christ, and on Friday, January 18, 2019, when he said, ‘Even if I bring the Pope, Christians will never vote for me.’’

El-Rufai had ignored Omokri.  But that was until a post on X by Imran U. Wakili chided Omokri for forgetting so easily how El-Rufai mentored him, gave him freedom and public recognition. In the post, he attached a picture of El-Rufai and Omokri.

He said:

“The greatest thing a mentor can offer is the freedom, recognition, and opportunities you need to succeed in life, far more valuable than money.

“A former minister who noticed you when you were unknown and helped you build a reputation has already given you everything. Unfortunately, wisdom has nothing to do with age!”

Acknowledging Wakili’s post, El-Rufai, in his verified handle @elrufai, quoted Wakili’s post,  and in the process, tackled Omokri.

El-Rufai: “Please Imran, let them be.

“They are PR consultants and online influencers. It is a new profession thriving in the Renewed Hope era because propaganda can build infrastructure, eliminate insecurity and address our economic challenges.

“The only qualifications needed to be on the payroll are (1) moral flexibility, (2) total shamelessness, (3) selective amnesia, (4) wretched upbringing and (5) intense craving for quick and easy money. The future doesn’t matter. Integrity is debatable. Truth is out!!”

Both El-Rufai and Omokri were good, if not close friends before politics tore them apart as it did National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu and El-Rufai.