When I saw Reno Omokri, Dino Malaye and the gang of those who were part and parcel of Nigeria Limited in the past two decades with Atiku Abubakar in the US, I shook my head. I realized how our daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly choices become our story and history. Increasingly Reno Omokri has become a kingpin in the Nigerian chapter of the League of Untrustworthy Gentlemen (LUG) with notable members like Festus Keyamo, and Femi Fani-Kayode. The painful part of these men is that they came from great backgrounds, and ordinarily should have extended the ancient landmark left by their parents or mentors. But the reverse is the case. For Festus Keyamo who was mentored by Gani, he could have written himself into another more credible and honourable league – The League of Extraordinary New Nigerians (LENN) with notable members like Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Tobi Amusan and Burna Boy.

By becoming an attack dog for the presidential flag bearer of PDP – Atiku Abubakar and being under his payroll, Omokri has placed his hard-earned reputation at risk. Respected Nigerians and South-Southerners like Tony Momoh and Prof. Tam David West who plied the same road of sacrificing their reputation for allegedly corrupt or dictatorial politicians, never regained it. Even if their benefactor emerges victorious. History repeats itself in families and among friends when we refuse to learn from the lessons. Today, Gani Fawehinmi and Fela Anikulapo Kuti are arguably Nigeria’s most celebrated activist with notable admirers and the new generation of posthumous mentee of Afrobeat artiste from Rema to Tems because nobody could put them under their payroll. Either by political appointment as was the case of Prof. Wole Soyinka with Ibrahim Babangida or campaign appointment as is the case of Reno Omokri with Atiku Abubakar.

Whether you are appointed or not, you have a say in the next election. There is no sitting on the wall. We cannot afford such luxury again after the plague called Buhari. We must do all we can to reset Nigeria by permanently retiring the politicians who have contributed directly or indirectly to what has made Nigeria a laughingstock among the league of nations. Every race has at least one nation members of that race can look up to with pride. Caucasians have multiple countries in Europe they can look up to. Mongoloids have many countries from China to Japan they can look up to. Negroids have none because Nigeria has not taken her rightful place. We have an opportunity in the coming presidential election to start the process of making ourselves and the Black race proud. Already our youths have started the process in sports and entertainment. We must consolidate this movement in leadership and politics. We must vote without ethnic or religious considerations. We must vote for the most qualified men and women for the job of steering the ship called Nigeria into an era of peace, prosperity, and progress.

Ata Ukuta – Editor, Towncryyers