Reno Omokri criticizes Davido for his remarks about the country’s struggling economy
Reno Omokri, a political commentator, recently responded to a statement by singer Davido during a podcast, where the artist described Nigeria’s economy as being in disarray.
In the podcast, Davido encouraged people living in the United States to consider moving back to Africa, particularly Nigeria, following Donald Trump’s victory. However, he added that Nigeria’s economic situation is far from ideal, making life challenging back home.
Omokri expressed his disagreement with Davido’s comments through a post on Instagram. He argued that Nigeria’s economy is not as dire as Davido portrayed it and criticized the artist for what he perceived as a lack of patriotism. Omokri supported his stance by pointing to the massive success of Wizkid’s recent album, which set a record with 12.12 million streams on its debut day on Spotify Nigeria. He reasoned that such a feat wouldn’t be possible in a truly struggling economy, as disposable income is necessary for streaming subscriptions like Spotify’s $10.99 monthly fee.
To further his point, Omokri compared Nigeria’s situation to countries like Venezuela and Argentina, where economic collapse is evident and such achievements would be unlikely. He also suggested that Davido should draw inspiration from Rihanna, who consistently uplifts her homeland, Barbados, and uses her platform to promote it globally. Omokri highlighted Rihanna’s recognition as a national hero and cultural ambassador in 2018 as an example of how celebrities can positively represent their countries.
Omokri criticized Davido for making such remarks to a foreign audience, suggesting that as someone whose uncle is a governor, he should have a better understanding of Nigeria’s complexities. He speculated that Davido’s experience in Osun State, where his uncle, Governor Ademola Adeleke, faced criticism for delayed implementation of a minimum wage increase, might have influenced his views. Omokri advised that if Davido’s issues stem from Osun’s local challenges, he should specify that instead of generalizing about Nigeria as a whole.
Omokri expressed disappointment in Davido’s comments, emphasizing the need for patriotism and more nuanced representation of the country’s economic reality.
