Omokri defends criticism of Davido’s ‘Bring Them Home’ jacket
Reno Omokri, the ambassador-designate to Mexico and a former aide to the president, has reacted to Afrobeats artist David Adeleke, widely known as Davido, following an insult directed at him after Omokri criticized Davido's advocacy for abducted schoolchildren during a FIFA World Cup concert.
In a statement shared on his social media account on Tuesday, Omokri expressed astonishment at the "vulgar" language employed against him, labeling it as inappropriate for an international celebrity representing Nigeria.
The dispute arose after Davido's performance at the FIFA World Cup countdown concert in Los Angeles, where he donned a custom jacket emblazoned with the names of more than 40 schoolchildren and teachers kidnapped in Oyo State in May, accompanied by the message "Bring Them Home."
Omokri had condemned this action as a misstep that provides terrorists with the attention they seek.
Earlier on Tuesday, the IF singer shared a video of Omokri from an interview on his Instagram, captioning it, "UMU BINGO @renoomokri fowl."
In response, Omokri reaffirmed his previous stance, stating that although Davido's intentions might be noble, showcasing bandits and terrorists on such a prominent platform inadvertently facilitates recruitment, instills fear, and enhances funding.
“Dear Mr. David Adeleke AKA @Davido, Thank you for your feedback. I was rather surprised by your response to my post, setting the record straight on Peter Obi’s false allegations against His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria, regarding the repatriation of Nigerian prisoners from the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia,” he wrote.
The former presidential aide also criticised the singer over what he described as an “insult” during their online exchange.
“Most shocking is your insult. You are an international celebrity whom Nigeria is proud of. Coming to insult me on my Instagram profile with such vulgar words should be beneath you.
“Yes, I am aware that you were upset at my appeal to you not to use an international platform, such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup, to give publicity to bandits and terrorists,” Omokri stated.
He argued that such publicity, even if well-intentioned, could aid terrorist groups.
“I did that because while your intention may be good and you think you are pressuring the government, the actual effect of what you did is to give publicity to the terrorists and help them spread fear, recruit new members, and raise funds,” Omokri added.
In drawing parallels with global events, Omokri pointed to international entertainment and sports platforms, asserting that celebrities in other nations refrain from discussing acts of terrorism to avoid giving attention to the perpetrators.
He also referenced the abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls in 2014 and the worldwide #BringBackOurGirls campaign, contending that heightened media attention hindered rescue operations and empowered terrorist organizations.
He stated, "We witnessed this in Nigeria. The #ChibokGirls were taken on April 14, 2014. The then Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, disclosed that the military had pinpointed the girls' location and was prepared to rescue them.
"However, following Michelle Obama’s display of the #BringBackOurGirls banner in May 2014, the increased media coverage led Boko Haram to disperse the girls into separate groups and relocate them to various camps, while also enhancing security measures around them, rendering their rescue virtually impossible.
"Subsequently, Boko Haram's recruitment surged, and their financial resources expanded significantly, culminating in ISIS's announcement six months later that they had merged with Boko Haram to establish ISWAP.
"This is the point I was attempting to convey. As Margaret Thatcher famously stated, 'publicity is the oxygen of terrorism.'"
Omokri further cited international standards regarding the reporting of terrorism, noting that organizations like UNESCO advise against providing excessive publicity to terrorist entities.
"This is also why the UNESCO Handbook for Journalists on Terrorism Coverage encourages public figures to refrain from granting terrorists any form of publicity," he wrote.
He concluded by expressing a desire for his perspective to be understood, stating: "I hope you now grasp my viewpoint. Thank you once more, and may God bless you."
