By VALENTINE OBIENYEM

I was at the forefront of the movement opposing the appointment of Mr. Reno Omokri as an ambassador, not out of personal animosity or partisan bitterness, but from a deep conviction about values, character, and the moral signals a nation sends through its appointments. I am encouraged that many Nigerians eventually discerned the substance of the argument and lent their voices to the crusade. At stake was not merely one individual, but the broader question of what kind of conduct we choose to legitimise, celebrate, and ultimately reward in public life. For in elevating certain figures, a nation inevitably elevates certain behaviours, and in doing so, defines the standards by which future generations will measure success and service.

Expectedly, the President proceeded with the nomination. Yet, despite this foregone conclusion, there remained a faint but genuine hope that the National Assembly might, for once, rise above partisanship and expediency, listen to the voices of reason echoing across the country, and refuse to endorse what many Nigerians perceived as a clear moral affront. Even with expectations deliberately kept low, who would have imagined that the legislature would clear him so swiftly and without meaningful scrutiny? Was this not a defining moment to reassure a weary nation that standards still matter, that character still counts, and that public office is not entirely divorced from ethical consideration? We heard that one House member even asked: “Why should we not clear him? Did he sleep with Mr President’s mistress?” This is Nigeria; this is their mindset. One depraved soul in London even sees it as Reno moving forward and leaving us behind. Men would not cease to perplex with their display of what my mentor, Prof. Okey Ikechukwu, calls “incestuous reasoning!”

Now that he has been cleared, one is compelled to ask: is this not yet another triumph of expediency over principle, of raw power over probity and moral restraint? That, in truth, is exactly what this episode represents. I am not unduly perturbed, for I have done my bit and discharged my conscience. As Socrates wisely reminded us, “It is better to suffer wrong than to do wrong.” In the end, the sober judgement of history, which records faithfully and judges without fear or favour, will surely confront us.

The deeper danger, however, extends far beyond the appointment itself. It lies in the quiet yet corrosive damage such a decision inflicts on the national psyche, particularly on the minds of the youth who look to public life for cues about success and virtue. I have seen this reflected in the behaviour of some young people - one in particular, writing from his “Japa” home in London, consumed with celebrating small and inconsequential achievements about himself, and reaching out to Reno as though aspiring to become his personal assistant. That young man represents the moral looseness that has become a problem in Nigeria. Here, I have seen firsthand a person who appears to believe in nothing.

What lesson, then, is being taught? That recklessness, abuse, and a glaring absence of restraint are acceptable - indeed, profitable - pathways to public office? That consistency, integrity, and moral discipline are optional extras rather than indispensable virtues? When a society sends such signals, it does not merely appoint individuals; it reshapes aspirations and distorts the ethos of an entire generation.

Many young people today may be seduced into thinking that political cunning, habitual falsehoods, opportunistic blackmail, and deliberate manipulation - traits that have become hallmarks of Reno’s public persona - are qualities to emulate, even celebrate. Is this truly the political ethos we wish to enshrine? If we continue to elevate such conduct, what, then, does that veneration say about our collective civic values, and the very soul of our nation?

This inevitably casts a stark and bad light on the President’s mindset. Does he pause to consider the moral consequences of his appointments, or the signal they send about what is valued in public life? Does he reflect on whether his actions elevate society or deepen its moral decay? Does he ever ask whether loyalty to power should outweigh the common good, or whether convenience should eclipse principle? Has integrity been entirely expunged from his calculations, leaving only ambition and favouritism to guide the course of the nation? What message does this send to those who look to leadership for guidance, especially the young, the impressionable, and the aspiring? Are we shaping a culture of excellence, or breeding a society conditioned to accept corruption, deceit, and cynicism as normal?

Reno Omokri once described President Tinubu in the most damning terms imaginable - labelling him a drug dealer, a drug user, the most corrupt Nigerian, and a morally debased individual. One must therefore ask: has Reno since uncovered evidence that completely contradicts those grave allegations, or were those statements merely weapons of convenience at the time? If they were lies, what does that say about his integrity? If they were true, what does that say about the judgment of a President who now deems him fit to represent Nigeria abroad?

Yes, as an ambassador, like Alcibiades, with whom I have often compared him, he will most likely don Yoruba attire, makes sure the president sees it and speak glowingly of Mr President, even portraying Tinubu as the long-awaited messiah. He will most likely tell the host country how he shared “Amala” and “Ewedu” with Mr President as the best food in the world. He may even project “Lukman” Yoruba as the best thing ever created by God. But given his antecedents, such performances will inevitably be seen as contrived and insincere. Reputation, after all, precedes the man. Not even the waters of the ocean, to borrow a metaphor, can wash Reno clean of his well-documented past. And it would indeed be astonishing, almost unnatural, if the Reno we know does not attempt to trade in secrets or privileged information for a pittance, a practice that has, sadly, become a byword associated with his public image. As the saying goes, “Character is what you are in the dark.”

If the President so desires, he may go further and appoint him Secretary to the Government of the Federation or elevate him to any other lofty position. That will not alter the essential truth: Reno Omokri will remain, to many Nigerians, a symbol of inconsistency, dishonour, and the triumph of opportunism over principle.

As he prepares to assume office, I say with absolute clarity that I will never address him as “Your Excellency.” Titles, honorifics, and ceremonial forms of address do not bestow virtue; they do not confer honour where none exists. True excellence is earned through character, integrity, and a steadfast commitment to the common good. History is replete with examples of men who held high office yet brought shame upon their nations, their authority magnifying the damage of every vice and folly. I also call upon all men and women of good conscience to resist describing him in such terms out of fidelity to truth and principle. Let no one lend the weight of their words to the illusion of excellence where none exists.

Let me also make it unmistakably clear to Mr. President that Nigerians are watching with keen attention. We are observing, with measured patience, the destination to which Reno will be posted, and we shall see to it that the full breadth of his public record - his countless statements, positions, and pronouncements concerning you - is brought to light to the host country for thorough scrutiny and evaluation. The world has a right to know not only the nature of the envoy Nigeria chooses to send but also the character of the leadership decisions that elevated him to such a post. In every act of governance, the choices we make broadcast our values, and in this instance, the world will judge both.

Reno Omokri stands as a profoundly negative example, not only for the youth but, indeed, for humanity itself. Even if the President were to compel his Vice President to resign and elevate Reno to fill the vacancy, such manoeuvres would not alter his fundamental nature: a man whose public conduct has been consistently marked by pettiness, moral corruption, and a disturbing absence of integrity.

As long as we have President Tinubu, we are bound to witness the proliferation of Reno Omokris - men whose ascent to power contributes nothing to the nation and whose presence in public office is a constant reminder of opportunism triumphing over principle. For the good of the country, it would have been far better if such individuals had never been born, and yet, under the current leadership, their multiplication seems all but inevitable.

• Obienyem, an entrepreneur and communications expert, writes from Awka.