Reno Omokri, ex-presidential aide, has tackled Dele Momodu, celebrity journalist and social commentator, following his advice to President Bola Tinubu on the economy.
Momodu, in an open letter to President Tinubu on Thursday, had urged the president to be frugal with the “scarce resources,” noting that Nigeria’s “economy has collapsed”.
“Nigeria is in big trouble. Our economy has virtually collapsed. And what’s the way out? You’ve been wasting too much money at a time that requires absolute frugality,” he said.
The letter read in part: “Please stop this reckless propensity for wasting scarce resources. Purchasing presidential jets, building outlandish monuments, distributing cash as palliatives, etc. are signs of a failed and careless government.
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“If you can curb the excessive spending of your government, you will free up a lot of resources for serious development.
“Invest in vocational skills for our highly talented youths who can demonstrate their capacity for hard work.
“Invest heavily in local agriculture. Upgrade our institutions of learning. Giving cash to politicians to distribute is unhealthy and unhelpful… It is the height of cluelessness.”
Reacting, Omokri took to his X handle to attack Momodu in Tinubu’s defence.
The former presidential aide in a post titled, ‘Response To My Beloved Senior, Dele Momodu: Nigeria’s Economy Is Not Collapsing. Far From It!’, said: “I read your open letter to President Bola Tinubu, in which you said, ‘Our economy has virtually collapsed’, among other things.
“Respectfully, the facts do not support your assertions, and in your open letter, you did not provide any facts. Only opinions. So, please let me present some facts that contradict your opinions.
“Firstly, only yesterday, the International Monetary Fund projected that due to the reforms being undertaken by the current administration, Nigeria will have a 3.1% GDP growth rate in 2024.
“This is one of the best projections for an African country in 2024, and does not signal an economy that has ‘virtually collapsed.’
“Secondly, Nigeria had a record high of ₦6.52 trillion trade surplus in the first quarter of 2024. This has never happened before.”
Displeased with the attack, Momodu also took to X to criticize Omokri’s defense of Tinubu’s policies, emphasizing the difference between economic theories and real-life economic conditions.
While warning Omokri against blind support, he urged him to say the honest truth to prevent Nigeria’s worsening crisis.
In the rejoinder titled “Re: Urgent Message For President Tinubu,” Momodu schooled Omokri on the differences between economic and economy.
In response, Omokri tackled Momodu, alleging that his magazine had published over 50 articles praising Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun state.
He wrote: “My egbon Dele Momodu has written over fifty publications praising Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun. And I do not begrudge him that. But is he saying the situation in Osun is better than the situation at the centre?”
Reacting, the celebrity journalist said: “RENO. I challenge you to quote the 50 times I praised GOVERNOR ADEMOLA ADELEKE. You’re desperately looking for justification for your TINUBU project. Awaiting your list MR TABLESHAKER…”
Not happy with the response, Omokri fired back, saying “Haba, egbon! Please go through your Instagram posts. Your social media is virtually a shrine to Governor Adeleke. It is beneath you to deny it. This is a notorious fact! Please, egbon, I make this an open challenge.
“If you have not used your social media profiles to praise Governor Adeleke at least fifty times, then take me to court! I will meet you there with documents. I am nothing if not a meticulous record keeper!”
Momodu then asked if Omokri was too lazy “to see quotation marks on my posts of press releases like I do with others.”
“I challenge you to post the 50 praises or keep quiet…,” he wrote.
Omokri replied saying: “Thank you for your feedback, sir. It is not that I am too lazy. How can anybody look at me and accuse me of laziness? I am slim, fit and very active in the boardroom, bedroom and newsroom. When you see a lazy person, you can tell by their body.”
He also posted a video himself at the gym doing pushups.
“Anyone accusing me of laziness should do this,” he captioned the video.
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