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Olugbemi. Adeyinka Ogunleye
2 months ago
Overview
DSS clearance of Omokri vindicates Sowores persecution Ex-Tinubus aide
The ongoing security clearance for ambassadorial nominee Mr. Reno Omokri has drawn a sharp warning from Mr. Josef Onoh, former South-east spokesman for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s campaign. Onoh explicitly cautioned the Department of State Services (DSS) that granting clearance to Omokri would inflict severe institutional damage, undermine the integrity of the state’s judicial actions, and make Nigeria the “laughing stock of the diplomatic world.”
Onoh, who also chairs the forum of former members of the Enugu State House of Assembly, confirmed that he has submitted a protest letter to the National Assembly, arguing that clearing Omokri an individual who spent years publicly accusing the sitting Head of State of international narcotics trafficking would be a “grave and avoidable error with far-reaching consequences.” Onoh’s core argument rests on a direct and damaging comparison to the state’s previous security actions, particularly the treasonable felony case against activist Omoyele Sowore.
While the treasonable felony charges against Mr. Sowore were previously withdrawn by the Attorney General, Onoh noted that Sowore was intensely prosecuted for the “broad and unspecified” allegation of calling the President a “criminal.” In stark contrast, Onoh highlighted the gravity of Mr. Omokri’s past statements: “Mr. Omokri’s allegation: The President is a convicted (or forfeit-linked) narcotics kingpin who personally ran a heroin trafficking network and laundered proceeds through U.S. banks, with documented evidence that he (Omokri) possesses and is ready to tender in court.”
Onoh stressed that the specificity, the sustained nature, and the claim of holding “incontrovertible documentary evidence” makes Omokri’s statements “objectively more explosive and infinitely more destabilising.” According to Onoh, “If the DSS clears Mr. Omokri for high diplomatic office, both domestic and international audiences will draw three inescapable and negative conclusions.
Credit: Blueprint
