Former presidential aide and political commentator Reno Omokri has vowed to dismantle the Obidient movement, citing threats to his family and a fallout with Peter Obi as key reasons for his decision.
Speaking on Breakfast Central on Thursday, Omokri claimed his opposition to Obi and his supporters was not driven by personal resentment but by what he described as a betrayal and targeted harassment.
According to him, he played a pivotal role in Obi’s rise to national prominence, particularly in securing his position as Atiku Abubakar’s running mate in the 2019 presidential election.
“I took a vow to destroy that movement because Peter Obi was a project of mine,” Omokri stated. “I was responsible for Peter Obi becoming the running mate to Waziri Atiku Abubakar in 2019. I have the documents to prove it.”
He explained that his initial frustration stemmed from Obi’s departure from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) without consulting those who had supported his political ascent. However, he said the real turning point was the behavior of Obi’s supporters, known as the Obidients.
Omokri alleged that the movement went beyond online criticism and targeted his family with threats.
“They didn’t just attack me; they went after my family,” he said. “At the time, I had just welcomed a daughter, and I received multiple death threats.”
He further claimed that Obidients tracked his movements in the United Kingdom, trailing him and his wife while they were jogging.
“I reached out to Peter Obi, expecting him to denounce these threats, but he refused to call out the individuals involved,” Omokri alleged.
Feeling abandoned and under siege, he said he made a decisive choice.
“I had to deploy whatever political machinery I have to destroy that movement,” he declared.
Omokri’s comments have reignited debate over political divisions in Nigeria, though Obi has yet to respond to the allegations.
