Reno Omokri, a former aide to the Nigerian presidency, has voiced a hopeful sentiment for the nation, countering the popular online expression “May Nigeria Never Happen To You.” This phrase, which resurfaced prominently after the tragic death of ARISE News anchor Somtochukwu Maduagwu, has sparked widespread debate across social media platforms.
In a heartfelt message posted on Tuesday, Omokri declared, “Let Nigeria happen to me, and may it continue to happen throughout my life!”
He criticized those who link personal misfortunes directly to the country, pointing out that many overlook the positive strides Nigeria has made.
“Whenever adversity strikes, critics are quick to claim that ‘Nigeria has happened’ to them. Yet, when good fortune comes their way, they rarely credit our nation for it,” Omokri observed.
He emphasized that difficulties are universal, reminding readers that even the most developed countries face significant challenges.
“In the United States alone, approximately 20,000 homicides occur annually-more than double Nigeria’s murder rate. Yet, Americans seldom denounce their country because of this. This is reality, not an ideal world,” he explained.
Omokri highlighted recent accomplishments under Nigeria’s current government, citing improvements in electricity supply, economic expansion, and the petroleum sector.
“Nigeria recently set a new record in power generation, reaching a peak of 5,801.84 megawatts and a daily energy output of 128,370.75 megawatt-hours-the highest in the nation’s history,” he noted.
He also pointed out that Nigeria has significantly cut down on fuel imports and has become a leading exporter of refined petroleum products in West Africa, according to the International Energy Agency.
“Fuel imports have plummeted, and Nigeria now stands as the top exporter of refined petroleum products in the region,” Omokri stated, adding that only three civilian administrations-those of Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, Goodluck Jonathan, and Bola Tinubu-have reached this milestone.
Furthermore, he remarked on the robust growth of Nigeria’s economy.
“Over the past two years, Nigeria’s economy has grown by $67 billion. The naira’s purchasing power surpasses that of many African currencies. For instance, $100 in Nigeria can buy more than the equivalent amount in Ghana, Cameroon, Kenya, Ethiopia, or South Africa,” he asserted.
Urging a shift toward optimism and national pride, Omokri concluded, “Nigeria is a nigeria-strategic-pr-opportunities/” title=”…'s Moment to Shine: Unlocking Powerful PR Strategies for Africa's Giant”>remarkable country, though not flawless-perfection belongs to the divine. While it’s easy to focus on the negatives, numerous positive developments are unfolding that we often ignore because we prefer sensational bad news.”
These remarks emerged amid intense public reflection following the death of Somtochukwu Maduagwu, who had once expressed a wish that “Nigeria never happens to me or anyone I care about.”
Her passing, reportedly linked to a robbery incident at her home in Abuja, has reignited discussions about systemic issues encapsulated by the phrase “Nigeria happened.” During a live segment on The Morning Show, her colleague Reuben Abati commented, “When Nigeria happens to us, it is truly tragic.”
While the phrase has become a social media shorthand for the country’s difficulties, Omokri advocates reclaiming it as a symbol of hope and resilience rather than despair.
