Political commentator Reno Omokri has accused Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi of hypocrisy for urging Nigerians to accept the harsh criticisms of Nigerian-born UK Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch.

Omokri, a vocal critic of Obi, questioned why Obi would ask Nigerians to embrace Badenoch’s remarks when he rejected the findings of the Pandora Papers, which alleged that he funneled money out of Nigeria into foreign accounts.

The former presidential aide also called Obi, "one of the bad politicians Kemi was referring to".

In a post on X, Omokri wrote: "Dear Peter, you are asking us to accept 'international reproach,' yet when the Pandora Papers of the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists indicted you for illegally funneling money out of Nigeria into foreign accounts, you complained bitterly. Is it not hypocrisy to ask Nigeria to accept what you were and are not prepared to take? Did you not protest when you faced 'international reproach' after your arrest and detention at London's Heathrow Airport?"

Omokri further stated, "You are one of the bad politicians Kemi complained about."

Earlier, Obi had suggested that instead of blindly defending Nigeria against criticism, citizens and leaders should take such remarks as a challenge to improve.

In an X post on Tuesday, February 4, he reacted to Badenoch’s statement, in which she said she did not want Britain to become poor like Nigeria, where failed governments and selfish politicians destroy lives.

Obi wrote: "What should we make of all the negative remarks about Nigeria? Recently, Nigerian-born Kemi Badenoch, a leader in the United Kingdom’s Conservative Party, took a serious swipe at our dear country.

“She stated that she would not want Britain to become like poor Nigeria, where a failed government destroys lives.

“Nigerians have had mixed reactions to her comments—some have criticized her, while others feel she simply stated the obvious and should not be vilified.

“A few years ago, a respected Nigerian newspaper lamented an informational piece aimed at Americans intending to visit Nigeria, which described the country in very unflattering terms.”

Obi's comments have since sparked debate, with some agreeing with his perspective, while others, including Omokri, argue that he is being selective in his stance on international criticism.