Mike Arnold, the former Mayor of Blanco, Texas, and founder of Africa Arise International, has publicly criticized Reno Omokri, a former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, labeling him a habitual liar and hypocrite motivated solely by personal gain rather than the welfare of the people.
Arnold, who traveled to Nigeria on a fact-finding mission regarding the ongoing religious persecution debate at Omokri’s invitation, expressed deep disappointment in what he described as Omokri’s duplicity and manipulative behavior.
Following their meeting, Arnold took to his X account on Wednesday to challenge Omokri’s denial of genocide against Christian communities in Nigeria. Arnold firmly asserted that numerous Nigerian Christians, particularly in the northern regions, continue to face deadly attacks.
He questioned how Omokri, who had previously been vocal about Christian massacres during the late President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, could suddenly dismiss similar atrocities under the current Bola Tinubu government-suggesting Omokri’s change of stance was driven by his pursuit of political appointments.
In a series of detailed posts, Arnold described Omokri’s deceit as distinct from typical lying, noting that Omokri lies with a composed and steady demeanor to enhance his public image.
“I’ve witnessed this firsthand. Last year, during his birthday trip to Kenya, he stayed at my home in Texas. More recently, he hosted me in Abuja,” Arnold shared.
“Reno’s lies are not frantic or erratic; they are cold, calculated, and relentless. Up close, he appears reptilian-chilling and soulless, yet disarmingly charming.”
Arnold recounted an incident where Omokri posted a video showcasing luxury cars, falsely claiming ownership. Two of those vehicles belonged to a friend of Arnold’s, whom Omokri had visited and filmed, then deceitfully presented as his own.
“I remained silent then but began observing more closely,” Arnold said.
During Arnold’s fact-finding visit, Omokri promised meetings with key figures such as President Tinubu, NSA Ribadu, and the Sultan of Sokoto-none of which materialized. Arnold believes these promises were mere props to bolster Omokri’s narrative and manipulate public perception.
Arnold also described a birthday event where prominent guests arrived expecting former President Goodluck Jonathan, only to leave quickly after realizing it was a publicity stunt orchestrated by Omokri. “They even thanked me for showing them the fastest exit route,” Arnold noted.
In Abuja, after a grueling 30-hour journey, Arnold was hurried into a photo opportunity with a compromised CAN chairman, with Omokri instructing him not to reveal his recent arrival to maintain a false impression of their presence.
Arnold accused Omokri of taking credit for trips and efforts he himself had funded and organized over six years, falsely presenting them as part of Omokri’s fact-finding mission.
On live television, Omokri misrepresented Arnold as the current mayor of Blanco and a Republican, neither of which is true. Arnold clarified that municipal elections in Blanco are nonpartisan and that he has not been politically active for three decades. Omokri also exaggerated Arnold’s relationship with Senator Ted Cruz, which Arnold described as a brief handshake years ago.
Arnold further debunked Omokri’s claim that his travel companion was a prominent Republican filmmaker, explaining that his friend only engages in occasional hobby projects and has no significant political affiliation.
“How can you tell when Reno Omokri is lying? His lips are moving,” Arnold quipped, emphasizing that his critique is about holding Omokri accountable rather than personal bitterness.
Arnold stressed the importance of integrity, especially when addressing the denial of genocide and posing as a Christian advocate, citing Psalm 101:7: “The one who practices deceit shall not dwell in My house; he who speaks lies shall not continue before My eyes.”
He made it clear that while he harbors no personal hatred, he cannot shield Omokri from the truth. “Lying to boost your image is one thing. Lying to conceal the Christian genocide in Nigeria is unforgivable,” Arnold stated.
Arnold accused Omokri of being a calculated, self-serving liar who attempts to obscure the suffering of tens of thousands of Nigerian martyrs with falsehoods. He warned that if Omokri does not repent, he risks being remembered as Nigeria’s Joseph Goebbels, a propagandist who manipulates language to mask atrocities.
Highlighting Omokri’s contradictory stance, Arnold noted that while Omokri once openly condemned the Christian genocide under Buhari’s administration, he now dismisses it as a hoax under Tinubu’s government, betraying the very victims he once mourned.
“In 2017, Omokri spoke with conscience, exposing extremist violence and pleading for global intervention. Now, in 2025, he denies the reality he once amplified,” Arnold lamented.
Arnold likened Omokri’s latest reversal to a sinister figure from a horror story-an evil clown luring innocents to harm-rather than a credible advocate.
He revealed that Omokri’s plan is to run for vice president alongside NSA Ribadu, a prospect Arnold finds both alarming and intriguing.
Arnold condemned Omokri’s recent public claim that Arnold supported him in “debunking” the genocide narrative, calling it a blatant and blasphemous lie. “I stood with the victims, not with him,” Arnold affirmed.
He dismissed Omokri’s attempt to blame Peter Obi for the international outcry over the genocide, calling it absurd and malicious. Arnold questioned what Leah Sharibu, a symbol of Christian persecution, would think of such betrayal.
Arnold concluded by warning that Omokri’s manipulation of language to whitewash mass murder is a grave sin, quoting Isaiah 5:20: “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil.”
He urged Omokri to repent before it is too late, reminding him that while the world may forget, the victims and heaven will not.
Arnold’s mission in Nigeria was to reveal the truth, a mission Omokri tried to hijack with deceit. Arnold called on Nigerians everywhere to recognize Omokri as a self-deluded, narcissistic figure whose credibility is far below even the lowest standards of integrity.
“If you’re Nigerian and reading this, you likely already know the truth,” Arnold concluded.
