The simmering tension between Reno Omokri, former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, and veteran journalist Dele Momodu, has erupted into a fresh exchange of insults, further intensifying the public feud between the two prominent figures.
The latest round of verbal sparring began on Monday, when Omokri took to X (formerly Twitter) to criticize political disloyalty, indirectly targeting Momodu with a pointed message.
Omokri’s post featured a throwback photo of President Bola Tinubu alongside Momodu from their days as political allies, accompanied by a sharp commentary on loyalty.
Omokri drew a provocative comparison between bandits, who he claimed are more loyal to each other than some pastors and politicians, and those he sees as betraying their principals and benefactors.
“You cannot be a good Christian if you cannot be a good friend. It is not possible… Anini and Monday Osunbor showed more love for each other than some Pastors,” Omokri wrote, alluding to notorious criminals from Nigeria’s past.
He lamented what he perceives as a lack of loyalty among some political and religious leaders, suggesting that even criminals exhibit a stronger bond of loyalty.
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Omokri then specifically criticized Momodu, albeit without naming him directly, for what he sees as a betrayal of his long-standing friendship with President Tinubu.
“Irrespective of the fact that he and President Bola Tinubu are now in different political camps, he ought to have respected their decades-long bond of friendship,” Omokri stated, implying that Momodu’s public criticisms of Tinubu were inappropriate and should have been handled privately.
In what appeared to be a direct response, Dele Momodu quickly fired back with a scathing post on social media, laden with biting metaphors but without directly naming Omokri. His message was widely interpreted as a retort to Omokri’s earlier remarks.
“It takes a demented soul to deliberately equate loyalty to a MAN to loyalty to a nation,” Momodu began, condemning the notion that personal loyalty should outweigh loyalty to broader principles or the country.
He continued, “It takes a serial blackmailer with bipolar symptoms to seek the downfall of every imaginary enemy in sight,” a pointed jab seemingly aimed at Omokri’s combative style on social media.
Momodu further described his adversary as someone who “perpetually looks for who to wrestle with in the mud,” and vowed to continue praying for such “disturbed souls,” suggesting that Omokri’s behavior is erratic and driven by personal vendettas.
The war of words between Omokri and Momodu has been brewing for some time, with both men known for their outspoken opinions and high-profile roles in Nigeria’s political and media landscapes.
As their exchanges become more heated, observers are watching closely to see if the conflict will escalate further or if cooler heads will eventually prevail.
This latest episode underscores the deep divisions and personal rivalries that continue to shape Nigeria’s political discourse, often spilling over into the public domain through social media platforms where the stakes—and the insults—are high.