Former presidential aide Reno Omokri has condemned athletes, entertainers, and artists who end up poor and blame the government for their struggles.
In a post shared on his X handle, Omokri said such a mindset reflects “mental laziness.”
He wrote: “Footballers can’t enjoy the proceeds of their success alone and then outsource their failure to society.”
According to him, sportsmen and entertainers are not the responsibility of government or society unless they serve as civil servants. In that case, they are entitled to pensions based on their terms of service.
Reno Omokri cited Joe Lasisi, a Nigerian Customs officer and professional boxer, who received salaries and benefits while also earning from his boxing career.
He admitted it is regrettable when national icons die broke but stressed that the responsibility for their end state lies with them, not the public.
“When they perform national assignments, they get paid. If unpaid, the public often fights for them. Beyond that, they also receive gifts of money and property from an appreciative country after major tournaments,” Omokri wrote.
He noted that many entertainers and athletes fail to pay taxes in Nigeria despite earning huge sums. Omokri argued that wasting their fortunes and later blaming society is unfair and irresponsible.
He concluded that growing old in poverty and shifting blame to government or fans shows “mental laziness and unawareness of how the world works.”
Read his full post here: https://x.com/renoomokri/status/1959592648458813462?t=itgib0VUz1EMqqCDHZAHdw&s=19
