Reno Omokri reacts to image of Peter Obi bending to greet Obasanjo, others

Ambassador-designate and former presidential aide, Reno Omokri, has reacted to the viral image of Labour Party 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi bending to greet former President Olusegun Obasanjo and other political figures, describing the act as a proper display of respect rather than something to be mocked.

Omokri, who was reacting to the image taken at the 60th birthday celebration of Senator Aminu Tambuwal, explained that showing reverence to elders and mentors is deeply rooted in many Nigerian cultures, though the form it takes may differ. 

In a post on Facebook on Sunday, Omokri noted that in his own culture, people do not prostrate but instead kneel traditionally to greet fathers and revered leaders. Despite this, he said he has personally prostrated on several occasions, either out of respect for another person’s culture or because of deep personal bonds.

He added that he has publicly prostrated before President Bola Tinubu whenever they have met and has done the same for a mentor who holds a traditional title, even in public places. 

According to him, Obi’s action followed the same principle of respecting the culture and status of elders, such as Obasanjo.

Omokri also recalled how former President Goodluck Jonathan, while still in office, knelt publicly to greet Hajia Aya Dada, the late mother of former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, stressing that such gestures have precedent at the highest levels of leadership.

Addressing claims that Obi appeared awkward, Omokri attributed this to the fact that Obi arrived late at the event, something he said Obi is usually uncomfortable with, given his preference for punctuality. 

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He suggested that any unease likely stemmed from self-disappointment rather than a sense of disrespect or impropriety.

He wrote, “There is absolutely nothing wrong with what Peter Obi did here. Showing respect to your elders and mentors should not be mocked. 

“In my culture, we do not prostrate. We do something else, called Dakun or Dakunle, where we kneel to greet Ogiame and our father.

“Nevertheless, I have prostrated flat three times in my life, twice because I respect the other person’s culture, and once out of love and loyalty to a friend and brother of mine in the Tinubu administration, whose culture it is not, but who I just had to honour because of our bond of friendship. 

“Each time I have met President Bola Tinubu, I have publicly prostrated myself to the ground before him. I have also prostrated flat on the floor to a mentor of mine, who is an Otunba, in front of the Transcorp Hilton in the full glare of the public. 

“Peter Obi respected the culture of his elders, like President Obasanjo, and others. There is nothing wrong with it! 

“As a sitting President, President Jonathan publicly knelt to greet Hajia Aya Dada, the late mother of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. 

“For the act of showing respect, which he demonstrated at the 60th birthday of Distinguished Senator Aminu Tambuwal, Peter Obi should be commended, not condemned! 

“Yes, he appeared a bit awkward when he did it, being that he came late, and the Peter Obi that I know would usually prefer to go early or punctually to events. So, he may have been somewhat uneasy because he felt disappointed in himself for being late, which in itself is natural and also honourable.  But there is nothing wrong with his behaviour here.”