The Strength of Obi in Reno’s Insult

By Dr jalarth Uche Opara

Find that clip and watch it carefully. What Reno displayed was nothing more than infantile behaviour. Maturity is not measured by age alone; it is reflected in restraint, composure, and emotional discipline — virtues that are increasingly rare.

I have always known Reno to be condescending and petty, but the depth of that pettiness became clearer after watching his calculated encounter with Mr.

He strutted toward an image that has clearly unsettled his mind for years, shoulders raised like a peacock, arrogantly shouting, “Mr. Obi!” from a distance, only to walk away looking like a drenched rat stripped of pride.
One wonders whether Reno would behave the same way toward people like Atiku, Wike, or Amaechi. Of course, he would not dare.

Beyond age, Peter Obi occupies a political and intellectual class far beyond Reno’s reach. Nothing justifies Reno’s conduct except an inferiority complex and obvious frustration over Obi’s rising political profile.

Even after Mr. Obi graciously stretched out his hand in greeting despite Reno’s rude approach, Reno still went further to place his hand on Obi’s shoulder — an act that revealed his true intention: provocation.

But rather than react angrily, Obi smiled and looked away, while Reno walked back diminished by his own conduct, exposing the immaturity many have long suspected.

Reno came looking for drama; instead, he encountered maturity. He came with negative energy but was met with calmness. He intended to ridicule Obi, but only succeeded in amplifying Obi’s unassailable virtues.

Even Reno’s caption on Facebook — “Politics without bitterness is Politics that will bring bitterness ” — exposed his original intention. Imagine what that caption would have looked like had Obi reacted emotionally to the provocation.

The encounter reinforced a few lessons for me:
Silence fits best when aggression is deliberate.

What is thrown at you matters less than how you respond to it.

When dealing with people who lack maturity, sometimes the best response is to behave as though they do not exist.

Chasing a pig into the mud only makes you dirty too.

I have always seen Reno as a noise-maker and attention-seeker, driven by crumbs from the tables of political paymasters. But his display at the airport was, for me, the height of pettiness and a chronic exhibition of insecurity.

Jarlath Uche Opara is a creative writer. An author, a columnist and political analyst.

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