Kudos to Davido, Knocks for Omokri, Caution to Traditional Media: #SecureNigeria #BringOurChildrenHome
In Yoruba, we say:
Ẹ ń bẹ olóògùn, ẹ ò bẹ aṣiwèrè.
You are begging the healer, while ignoring the one whose condition created the crisis.
That is exactly what Reno Omokri’s argument sounds like to me.
I do not give his intervention on this matter the weight of moral credibility.
In my view, his public commentary has become too closely tied to political convenience to be treated as a neutral defence of public interest.
This is the same Reno Omokri who once strongly criticised the head of the present government, made grave public allegations against him, and publicly vowed never to work with him.
Today, he has become one of his most visible defenders.
One may change one’s mind.
But when a public commentator takes the public through years of vehement claims, then later reverses himself without proper explanation, apology, or presentation of new facts, he should not expect the public to simply move on.
His turncoatism has earned him an ambassadorial appointment, and therefore, he must continue to serve the cause of his masters.
That is why I have nicknamed him the Babalọ́jà General of Nigeria, a failed one for that matter, who appears more concerned with image management than the real experience of the people.
In his upside-down thinking, he does not confront the citadel of ills that Nigeria has become, nor does he proffer solutions. Instead, he would have us endure it in cold silence, not in the best interest of the people, but in the best interest of his paymasters.
Where has his voice been since the children in Borno and Oyo were abducted?
Are citizens now expected to remain silent so that terrorists are not “helped” by publicity, while the State that failed to protect the affected children is protected from public scrutiny?
Yes, publicity around hostage situations must be responsible.
Nobody should reveal operational details.
Nobody should glorify abductors.
Nobody should make rescue efforts harder.
But there is a difference between reckless publicity and public advocacy that insists affected children must not be forgotten.
What Davido did, as I see it, was not to glorify terrorists.
He used his global platform to humanise the affected persons.
He reminded the world that these children have names.
They are not statistics.
The burden of rescue is not on Davido.
It is on the Nigerian State.
The burden of prevention is not on celebrities.
It is on the Nigerian State.
So, no, I do not agree that the first response should be to scold Davido.
The first response should be to ask why children are still being abducted.
The first response should be to demand protection, rescue, accountability, and responsible daily public briefings that do not compromise operations.
I stand with Davido on this.
Silence does not rescue children.
Silence does not protect affected persons.
Silence only protects failed systems from shame.
On a final note, I also wonder why the Nigerian press continues to give Reno Omokri’s views such generous airplay.
Is it for clicks or for public accountability?
In my view, on sensitive public issues like this, his comments should be treated with far more scrutiny than publicity.
Do have an INSPIRED weekend with your families.
