Reno Omokri (born 1974) is a Nigerian activist, lawyer, author, social media influencer, and pastor from Warri, Delta State, Nigeria.
He is also a controversial internet celebrity known for his provocative posts. The activist was also the special assistant to former President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria. He entered into politics through his involvement with Goodluck Jonathan and stood by him during his whole time in office.
He was the host of San Francisco’s KTLN and Detroit’s Impact Network TV show Transformation with Reno Omokri, which focused on Christian teaching. This 30-minute TV telecast was produced by the Mind of Christian Center, California. Reno was also the Vice President (Africa) of the US Political Consulting firm called Joe Trippi and Associates. He is the founder of Helen and Bemigho Sanctuary for Orphans, Benin, and the Mind of Christ Christian Center.
Biography and Profile Summary of Reno Omokri
- Full name:Â Bemigho Reno Omokri
- Date of birth:Â 22nd January 1974
- Place of birth:Â Nigeria
- Age:Â 50 years old
- State of origin:Â Delta State, Nigeria
- Education:Â University of Wolverhampton, England
- Occupation: Activist, Author, Pastor, and Lawyer
- Marital status: Married to Tuokpe Omokri
Reno Omokri is From Warri, Delta State, Nigeria
Reno Omokri is a native of Warri, Delta State, Nigeria. He was born on the 22nd of January 1974 in Nigeria. His parents are Justice Jean Omokri and Helen Bemigho. Reno’s father was a Justice of the Nigerian Court of Appeal, while his mother was a civil servant. His mother was born on 15th November 1947 and died on 17th March 2004. She was a native of the Itshekiri tribe of Warri in Delta State.
The activist is a public figure, no doubt, but details about Omokri’s childhood and early education are not known to the public. This is so because he keeps his private life away from the public. However, in 2004, the lawyer got his Master’s degree in Law from the University of Wolverhampton in England. This is the much we know about his education. Again, Reno is happily married to Tuokpe Omokri, and their union is blessed with three kids; two boys, Tosan and Misan, and a girl Tsola.
He Is a Lawyer and Political Activist
Being a lawyer’s child, Reno developed an interest in his father’s profession. He grew to love the course and went ahead to study it at the university. Today, the activist is a lawyer with a Master’s degree from the University of Wolverhampton, England. He became a political activist because he is aware of the law, rights, and privileges of a citizen, and he speaks up when things are not going right. One of his acts as an activist includes the Free Leah Sharibu movement. His profession as an outspoken lawyer also helped him to freely delve into politics.
Additionally, he entered into politics in 2011 and became a Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan. Also, he was the pioneer of the use of social media platforms for political purposes in Nigeria. He is the founder of Build Up Nigeria, a multimedia project, which has produced short films in the United States. As it stands now, he is one of the most outspoken political activists in Nigeria.
Besides Activism, Reno Is Also a Writer and Pastor
Reno Omokri is a writer with a lot of books in his name. He has written both motivational and religious books. Reno is a number 1 Bestselling Author. His profession opens his eyes to many fields of life; therefore, he has something to say about any aspect of life, ranging from relationships, politics, and religion. He used to post his ideas about life, people, and reality on his Twitter handle before Twitter was banned in Nigeria. He continued with his Instagram page, Facebook, and other social media platforms.
Here is a list of his books
- Start Solving Problems
- Why Jesus Wept
- Apples of Gold
- Leah Sharibu: The Girl Boko Haram Left Behind
- Fact Versus Fiction: The True Story of the Jonathan Years, Chibok, 2015, and the Conspiracies
- Poverty Is a Choice
- Shunpiking: No Short Cuts to God
Furthermore, as a minister of God, Omokri owns a Christian center called Mind of Christ Christian Center, located in the San Francisco Bay Area, and he is a pastor there. The Christian center produced a 30-minute TV telecast on Impact Network and San Francisco’s KTLN, all in California.
Highlights Of Reno Omokri’s Controversies
Because of his outspoken nature, Reno has spread several controversial ideas and information. These ideas are not welcomed well by the people, resulting in attacks on him on social media. He is blunt most times, especially when it has to do with relationship issues and people. His views don’t always go down well with the people. A look at some of his major controversies.
He Accused Buhari’s Government of Nigeria’s Poor Anti-Corruption Rating
The outspoken activist took to social media on 1st February 2021 to blame President Buhari’s government for the poor rating of Nigeria in the Transparent International’s Corruption Perception Index, which was released on January 29, 2021. According to the rating, Nigeria moved from 136 in 2014 to 149 in 2021. He gave his reasons for his stand, pointing out the various ills of the government and instances of corruption among government officials. Starting with the president, he reveals that President Buhari appointed the heads of Executive, Legislative and Judiciary, Ministries and Defence all from the North. He said that it is against the federal character, also listed several other corrupt practices in Nigeria.
The Nigerian government, led by President Muhammadu Buhari, in defense, blamed Nigerians for the poor rating. Garba Shehu, who is Buhari’s media aide, said Nigerians are responsible for this, and not the president and his government.
Reno Omokri was Accused of Abandoning His Wife and Kids
There has been information on Reno Omokri fathering a child outside of his matrimonial home. The source revealed a congratulatory message from the former president of Nigeria, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. He has been accused of abandoning his wife in America and fleeing to London, where he has another woman. The report has it that Omokri sent in a picture with his woman and a newborn baby, whom he called Ebele, after the former president. Reno is seen as a hypocrite and a liar because he goes ahead to do those things he had openly condemned. For instance, he condemned single mothers and said that he pities only victims of rape and domestic violence. However, he leaves his wife and three kids behind, making his wife a single mother. He was condemned through an article on TheWill Nigeria newspaper on May 16, 2021.
His Reaction To Allegations Of Abandoning His Family
On his Instagram page, the activist addressed the issue. According to him, the story is not true and is a plot by the president to stop him from his intended #HarassBuhariOutofParis campaign. He launched this campaign on Sunday, 16th May 2021, and woke up to the allegation on Monday, 17th May 2021. However, he swore that he has never engaged in a premarital affair, and will never do it.
Reno Was Also Accused of Impersonation and Identity Theft
In 2014, Reno was accused of impersonating Wendel Simlin, a Californian boy. He was said to have written controversial messages with the identity. Through these messages, the activist tried to link up the actions of the Boko Haram group to Sanusi Lamido, former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor. He accused him of sponsoring Boko Haram attacks. His identity was revealed through a digital signatory of the messages he sent. The signature was his, while the name was different.
The real Wendell Simlin’s mother, Deborah Campbell, revealed that she was married to Omokri’s brother-in-law. That was the reason why he stole her son’s identity and used it for fraudulent purposes. However, he was legally charged for the crime, but the outcome of the case is unknown to the public.