Reno Omokri, a renowned author and public figure, has praised former Nigerian President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan as the “best president Nigeria has ever had.”
In a heartfelt post on his X account, Omokri celebrated Jonathan’s birthday with a special message that highlights the former leader’s significant contributions to Nigeria and his personal character
Omokri, a former aide to Jonathan, began his tribute by describing the ex-president as “the most humane and decent person” he has ever met, a sentiment he expressed despite having traveled worldwide and encountered various influential figures.
He went on to say that Jonathan epitomized all the virtues often absent from the rough world of politics.
“If you can imagine all the goodness in the sometimes dirty game of politics and put it in one individual, that person would be Dr. Jonathan,” Omokri wrote.
Omokri’s praise extended to Jonathan’s numerous initiatives aimed at improving Nigeria’s educational system, economy, and infrastructure.
He pointed out that Jonathan’s administration was particularly focused on empowering Nigeria’s youth and ensuring that the country’s underprivileged citizens had access to better opportunities.
“Former President Goodluck Jonathan is the most humane and decent person I have ever met,” Omokri continued.
“If you were an out-of-school Northern Nigerian child, your best friend in the world would be the man who built almost two hundred almajiri schools so you could have a future and hope.”
He also lauded Jonathan’s impact on the youth, noting the establishment of the Youth With Innovation in Nigeria (YouWIN) program, which granted up to $50,000 to nearly 4,000 young Nigerians to start or grow their businesses.
Omokri highlighted Jonathan’s commitment to improving the lives of Nigerian pensioners, revealing that Jonathan’s administration paid more pensions in five years than any of his predecessors.
He also celebrated the former president’s role in expanding the country’s higher education system by building 12 new federal universities and two specialized universities, enabling an additional 55,000 Nigerians to access undergraduate education annually.
The former president’s contributions to infrastructure were also praised. Omokri referred to the upgrades made to the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu, which saved passengers from the Southeast the costs of traveling to other cities like Abuja, Lagos, or Port Harcourt for international flights.
He also mentioned significant projects such as the Loko-Oweto Bridge and the Abuja-Kaduna Super Fast Railway, which greatly improved connectivity within the country.
Despite these monumental achievements, Omokri emphasized that it was Jonathan’s humility and simplicity that most endeared him to the Nigerian public.
He recounted a personal encounter with Jonathan, where the then-sitting president bent down to pick up a fallen phone, despite being the leader of a nation of over 180 million people. Omokri reflected on Jonathan’s legacy, noting the famous statement Jonathan made during his presidency: “My ambition is not worth the blood of any Nigerian.”
Omokri praised Jonathan for living by this principle even after leaving office, adding that it was part of the reason he remains one of the most respected former presidents in Africa.
He called Jonathan the “Face of Democracy in Africa” and expressed his pride and honor in wishing him a happy birthday.
“May God bless you, and may you never diminish during your lifetime and in posterity. Happy birthday to the Face of Democracy in Africa,”