Prominent All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain from Dunukofia Local Government Area of Anambra State, Pharmacist Chinedu Ikeagwuonwu Klinsmann, has reiterated his call for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to withdraw the nomination of Mr. Reno Omokri as an ambassador-designate, asserting that such an appointment poses significant risks to Nigeria’s diplomatic reputation and integrity.

Klinsmann, who practices Pharmacy in Stockholm, Sweden, emphasized that Mr. Omokri’s record is replete with controversies that render him unfit to represent Nigeria internationally. “Diplomatic positions require individuals of unassailable character and antecedents, capable of representing Nigeria’s interests with integrity and respect, not uncouth individuals and noisemakers,” stated Klinsmann.

The public affairs analyst pointed to several incidents involving the nominee that question both his character and judgment. Chief among them is the 2014 identity misrepresentation scandal involving the alias “Wendell Simlin.” Mr. Omokri was accused of using this pseudonym to circulate documents that attempted to link political opponents to terrorism. “Particularly, Mr. Omokri allegedly attempted to link the spike in Boko Haram attacks at the time to the suspension of Mr. Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria”. Such deceitful conduct, Klinsmann opined, erodes public confidence and contradicts the ethical standards expected of someone representing Nigeria abroad.

Equally damning, according to Klinsmann, are the allegations of domestic violence made in 2018 by Omokri’s ex-wife, Tuokpe Onuwaje. “She accused him of physical abuse during their marriage, with reports of serious injuries. She recounted instances where Omokri allegedly left her with a swollen jaw and a ruptured eardrum, even in the presence of their daughter,” stated Klinsmann. These claims, though later investigated and closed as inconclusive by authorities in Contra Costa County, California, Klinsmann noted that they raise concerns about Omokri’s temperament and suitability for diplomatic responsibilities. He added that the role of a diplomat requires unimpeachable integrity and composure under scrutiny.

Pharm. Klinsmann also cited the 2021 accusation by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who alleged that Mr. Omokri sexually harassed her during a state banquet at Aso Rock in 2014. Though Omokri denied the allegations and provided travel records indicating he was not in the country at the time, Klinsmann maintains that the incident raised red flags about the nominee’s past conduct and public image, particularly in the context of representing Nigeria’s interests among international stakeholders.

The vocal APC chieftain further recalled an altercation involving Mrs. Deborah Okezie, mother of Don Davis, the student who was allegedly abused at Deeper Life High School, in a case where the Magistrate Court at Uyo charged the school principal to court for involvement in the molestation, starvation and sexual abuse of Davis, a JSS1 student of the institution. “In a widely circulated video released in January, 2021, Mrs. Okezie accused Omokri of threatening her to retract her claims or face unspecified consequences”. Klinsmann described such alleged intimidation as “despicable,” further questioning the temperament and maturity of someone now poised to serve as an envoy.

Also troubling, Klinsmann added, was Omokri’s 2021 letter to Pope Francis, in which he sought disciplinary action against Reverend Father Ejike Mbaka, the Spiritual Director of Adoration Ministry Enugu, Nigeria (AMEN), accusing him of political meddling. Pharm. Klinsmann questioned the wisdom of directly involving global religious authorities in local political disputes, noting that such impulsive actions reflect poor diplomatic judgment and lack of tact.

He also referenced Omokri’s long record of controversial online remarks, including disparaging comments about Nigerian celebrities and ethnic groups. For instance, Omokri once referred to reality TV show contestants as “darkness” and routinely mocked public figures on social media—tendencies Klinsmann says are inconsistent with the decorum expected of any diplomat. He reminded observers that public servants, especially ambassadors, are expected to exhibit restraint, respect, and the ability to unify, not polarize.

Klinsmann warned that appointing Mr. Omokri would erode public trust and signal to Nigerians that recklessness, not merit, is the path to public office. He also noted that the Ohanaeze Youth Council has formally opposed the nomination, citing Omokri’s past actions as divisive and damaging to national unity.

He emphasized that Nigeria, at this crucial moment in its democratic journey, must be represented by men and women of character, vision, and maturity. “Diplomacy is not for the loquacious or temperamental. It is for individuals who embody calmness, tact, and credibility. Reno Omokri fails that test on all counts,” Klinsmann said.

Pharm. Klinsmann therefore urged President Tinubu to act swiftly in the national interest and withdraw the nomination of Omokri. “Let us not reward controversy and divisiveness with promotion; we must preserve the dignity of our diplomatic institutions,” he concluded.