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Nigerians on social media were taken aback this afternoon after former presidential aide and political commentator, Reno Omokri, publicly celebrated his longtime political rival, Peter Obi, on his 64th birthday.
Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential flagbearer in the 2023 general elections, turned 64 today, July 19. Despite being one of Obi’s most vocal critics, Reno took to his social media platform to extend birthday wishes, a gesture that caught many by surprise.
In his message, Reno clarified that his frequent criticisms of Obi should not be mistaken for personal hatred. Instead, he said his opposition stems from his desire to challenge narratives that he believes demarket Nigeria.
“When Peter Obi criticizes the President, do you guys think he hates the President? No! So why do you think I hate him when I oppose him?” Reno wrote. “We cannot be people who are governed by our emotions. If you rule by your emotions, you will be ruled by people who rule their emotions.”
He concluded his message with a warm birthday wish:
“Happy 64th birthday, Peter Obi! May God bless you, and may God bless Nigeria!”
The unexpected goodwill message has since sparked a flurry of reactions online, with many Nigerians expressing surprise at the rare moment of civility between two fierce political opponents.
