₦airaland Forum

A former presidential aide, Mr Reno Omokri, has said deaths arising from violent clashes, particularly in the Northern parts of the country, have no religious motivation, contending that they predate Christianity.

He made this submission in a lecture titled: “Speaking Truth to Power in Contemporary Nigeria,” which he presented to the Oxford African Governance Forum at Oxford University in the UK over the weekend.

Speaking against the backdrop of US President Donald Trump’s declaration of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern, Omokri argued that the labelling had no basis in fact and noted that it was a grave misconception of the situation on the ground.

President Trump recently declared Nigeria a CPC, claiming that Christians were being targeted and killed. He threatened military action if the Nigerian government failed to stop the alleged killings.

President Bola Tinubu, in a comprehensive response, denied the designation and stated that he has been faithful to his oath of office, which mandates him to protect all Nigerians irrespective of their religion and ethnicity.

Omokri’s lecture backed the Nigerian government’s position, emphasising that the US government’s claim was false.

“It is condescending for President Donald Trump to say that the Nigerian government allows Christians to be killed, he stated, querying, “does it make sense to say that the American government allowed the terrorist who attempted to kill President Trump two years ago?”

He challenged the US president and Senator Ted Cruz, who has been at the forefront of the allegation, to name, shame, and provide evidence of the Nigerian government officials they alleged are facilitating the killing of Christians.

He also punctured the claim that terror-related deaths are on the rise in the country as a disreputable lie that is easily dispelled by the latest figures on the Global Terrorism Index, which show that the deaths have decreased by 90% over ten years, dropping from 7,000 in 2015 to 500 in 2025.

Going on the historical lane, Omokri told his audience that the violent clashes, particularly in the North, are economically motivated, explaining that they are caused by the contest for land for grazing and farming.

He argued that the security challenge dates back to precolonial times and referred to the Kwararafa Kingdom, which he said stretched from Zuru in Kebbi State to Gembu in Taraba State, where he explained killings resulting from clashes over land existed long before Christianity.

He referenced colonial records dating back to 1924, indicating that farmer/herder clashes had become a security challenge.

He also apprehended population growth as a major cause of the clashes, pointing out that the contest for land grew worse as more people needed space for their economic activities.

The former presidential aide said in 1924, when the colonial records indicated the rising cases of farmer/herder clashes, Nigeria’s population was 18 million, 10 million in the North and eight million in the South, explaining that with the explosion of the figure to more than 200 million, the competition for limited resources was bound to rise.

He listed several efforts made to stem the clashes, including the Fadama all-year-round farming method and the creation of the livestock development ministry by the Bola Tinubu administration.

Omokri blamed the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general election, Mr Peter Obi, for the false campaign against Nigeria, claiming that the trending allegation of Christian genocide began after he addressed a Congress committee earlier this year.

He criticised the Labour Party chieftain for defending the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra as not a terrorist organisation when, in fact, the organisation has been proscribed and declared a terrorist gang by the law.

Omokri said Obi offered that defence even though the leading lights of IPOB, like Mr Simon Ekpa, had been convicted for terrorism, while its leader, Mr Nnamdi Kanu, faces judgment in weeks.

Concluding his lecture, the former presidential aide asked for a more balanced and data-driven approach to the assessment of the situation in Nigeria.

“If we as a people can transcend religion and ethnicity, we will build a strong, united and peaceful nation,” he stated.

The lecture was a part of the Michael Mas Conference Series at the Oxford African Forum of the University in the United Kingdom.

Omokri blamed the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general election, Mr Peter Obi, for the false campaign against Nigeria, claiming that the trending allegation of Christian genocide began after he addressed a Congress committee earlier this year.

Putindbutt:
The finishing specialist is finished, he will ever regret this.

Putindbutt:
This same Reno that Bitter Obidients say he has gone hiding, that their paid zionist propagandist Mike Arnold has disgraced. See him here at the world stage pressing their necks harder

Truly, Reno Omokri is their nightmare.

Pakute:
https://thenationonlineng.net/omokri-at-oxford-university-insists-no-christian-genocide-in-nigeria/

jmoore:
You go explain tire!!

This is Reno Omokri's evidence

Dreal1247:
I think the curses issued against him by the pastor has completely overwhelmed him to the extent that he has lost sense of direction and reasoning. Meaning that all the witnesses and verifiable facts posted by victims of the genocidal acts don't get to him. The end shall surely justify the means. But remember tomorrow, remember the unborn.

AMINDA:
Reno was probably in an hotel lobby while lieing as usual that he is at Oxford. Let him provide proof by showing the audience he was talking to. The conman continues to milk the gullibles that fund his wild goose chase in the government. Here are screenshots of his chat with Mike Arnold when he and Nuhu arranged to have Mike come to Nigeria. Needless to say, it backfired tremendously. Nuhu should know better than to allow himself to be associating in such endeavours and with characters like Reno, considering the sensitive nature of the position he occupies.

BrokenTV:
All I got to say is hmmmm, Reno Omokri,
Stomach infrastructure.