A former Mayor of Blanco in Texas, United States, Mike Arnold, has sharply criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the inclusion of former presidential aide, Reno Omokri, in the recently released list of ambassadorial nominees.
President Tinubu had forwarded 32 names to the Senate for confirmation, with Omokri and other political figures making the list. The development immediately sparked mixed reactions across the country and among Nigerians abroad.
Arnold, who has consistently accused Omokri of downplaying the plight of persecuted Christians in Nigeria, took to his social media page to express outrage over the nomination. He described the President’s decision as “tone-deaf,” insisting that Nigeria deserved better representation on the international stage.
According to him, appointing individuals he described as “money-grubbing, boot-licking, genocide-denying sycophants” sends a disturbing message about the nation’s values. He warned that the nomination reinforces a perception that Nigeria rewards political loyalty over integrity and competence.
“The world is watching,” Arnold wrote, adding that the ambassadorial list paints Nigeria as “a disgraced, corrupt nation.”
He argued that the President’s choices show a preference for controversial figures, rather than individuals capable of restoring global confidence in the country.
Arnold’s criticism adds to the growing backlash within Nigeria, where several civil society groups, political stakeholders, and regional organisations have also faulted Omokri’s nomination.
Some groups from the Niger Delta and the South-East have publicly urged the President to withdraw his name, citing what they called his history of divisive social media commentary and inconsistent political positions.
