Reno defends criticism after Davido’s ‘umu bingo’ jab

Former presidential aide and Ambassador-designate to Mexico, Reno Omokri, has responded to singer David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, after the artiste reportedly insulted him on Instagram over comments relating to insecurity in Nigeria.

In an open letter released on Tuesday, Omokri said he was surprised by Davido’s reaction to his post, which he said was intended to correct what he described as false claims by former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, regarding the repatriation of Nigerian prisoners from Ethiopia.

Omokri expressed disappointment over the singer’s use of “vulgar words,” noting that such conduct was beneath an international celebrity whom Nigerians are proud of.

He explained that his earlier criticism of Davido stemmed from the singer’s use of the 2026 FIFA World Cup platform to speak about banditry and terrorism in Nigeria.

According to Omokri, while Davido’s intentions may have been good, publicising terrorism on a global stage could inadvertently aid terrorist groups by spreading fear, attracting recruits and raising funds.

He contrasted Davido’s actions with those of American content creator IShowSpeed, who he said promoted Nigeria positively during the same event by wearing a Nigerian jersey and speaking favourably about the country.

To support his argument, Omokri referenced the October 7, 2023 abduction of hostages in Israel, noting that major celebrities in the United States, United Kingdom and Canada did not use international platforms to highlight the incident because publicity could benefit terrorists and jeopardise rescue efforts.

He also cited the 2014 abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls, arguing that international campaigns around the incident complicated rescue operations and boosted Boko Haram’s recruitment and finances.

Quoting former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s statement that “publicity is the oxygen of terrorism,” Omokri said public figures should avoid amplifying terrorist activities and instead support efforts that deny criminal groups global attention.

He added that international guidelines, including UNESCO’s handbook on terrorism coverage, advise public figures against granting undue publicity to terrorists.

Omokri concluded by expressing hope that Davido would understand his position, while wishing the singer well.