Reno Omokri, a former presidential aide and outspoken socio-political commentator, has heavily criticised the Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, over his conspicuous absence at the burial of Nigeria’s former President, Muhammadu Buhari.
Omokri lambasted Obi for what he described as blatant disregard for a significant national event.
The late former President Muhammadu Buhari died on Sunday, July 13, 2025, after a prolonged battle with illness. He passed away in a hospital in London, where he had been undergoing treatment for several months.
In response to his passing, the Federal Government declared a period of national mourning and announced public holidays to honour the memory of the late leader.
Buhari, who served as both a former military Head of State and a two-term democratically elected President, was widely recognised for his influence on Nigeria’s political landscape.
The burial ceremony was held on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, in Daura, Katsina State, his hometown, and was conducted according to Islamic rites.
The event attracted an array of dignitaries, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, prominent Nigerian politicians, traditional rulers, world leaders, and thousands of mourners from across the country and beyond. However, Peter Obi was conspicuously absent from the burial.
Omokri, while reacting to Obi’s absence, drew a sharp comparison between Obi’s actions on international occasions and his apparent neglect of important national events.
He recalled that when Pope Francis died, Peter Obi, despite not being officially invited, travelled over 5,600 kilometres to Rome in an attempt to attend the Pope’s funeral.
According to Omokri, it took the intervention of President Tinubu to prevent an embarrassing situation for Obi in Rome, as his presence at the Vatican was not formally acknowledged.
Yet, Omokri questioned, when it came to honouring the immediate past President of Nigeria, who was laid to rest just 500 kilometres away from Obi’s base, the same enthusiasm was missing.
“What message is Obi passing to Nigerians, especially the Northern people, Mutanen Arewa?” Omokri queried, implying that Obi’s decision could be interpreted as disrespectful, particularly to the North where Buhari hailed from.
IREPORT247NEWS had previously reported that President Tinubu, Peter Obi, and former Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, were seen together at the installation mass of Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican.
This event portrayed a rare moment of unity among Nigeria’s political heavyweights despite their differences. The meeting was captured by Tinubu’s media aide, Bayo Onanuga, and shared widely on social media, showing the trio exchanging pleasantries.
Nevertheless, Omokri maintained that while Obi is quick to engage in high-profile international gatherings, his absence from a critical national event like Buhari’s burial sends a troubling signal about his priorities and connection to Nigerian unity.