First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu's 65th birthday celebration ignited a significant public discourse, particularly concerning her request for well-wishers to donate towards the completion of the National Library Headquarters in Abuja, rather than providing personal gifts. This initiative, reported by Tribune Online, was met with a controversial remark from the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, who reportedly stated, “we’re finished,” in response to the First Lady’s appeal.

Reno Omokri, a former presidential aide and a frequent critic of Peter Obi, vehemently condemned Obi's comment. Omokri asserted that Obi should be ashamed of himself for disparaging what he described as a “sincere and patriotic birthday wish” aimed at completing a vital national institution. He further characterized Obi’s behavior as a “special type of low life,” drawing parallels to past accusations of Obi allegedly distributing money to potential voters during his tenure as Anambra governor.

Omokri challenged Obi's assertion that only public funds should be used for such projects, accusing him of ignorance and desperation for the presidency. He elaborated by explaining that private sector involvement in funding public institutions like national libraries is a globally recognized practice. Citing the example of Andrew Carnegie, a notable philanthropist whose Carnegie Corporation built 2,509 libraries worldwide (1,689 in the United States alone), Omokri argued that such private contributions make these institutions less susceptible to government control, thus preserving their public status.

Furthermore, Omokri criticized Obi's leadership record as Anambra State governor, suggesting that Obi is better suited to running a market stall than leading a nation. He claimed that poverty in Anambra increased under Obi’s governorship, rising from 41.4% in 2003 to 53.7% by 2009, a 29.7% surge. Omokri also alleged that Obi, whom he labeled a “trader, not a leader,” spent eight years in office without constructing a single nursery, primary, secondary school, or university, thereby neglecting education.

Despite the initial criticism from Peter Obi, the First Lady's initiative, branded the “Oluremi @65 Education Fund,” proved highly successful. Following her 65th birthday on September 21, 2025, the fund successfully raised an impressive ₦20,456,188,924.93 dedicated to completing the National Library Headquarters in Abuja. This substantial amount brings the long-delayed project significantly closer to fruition, with the fund being coordinated by the Federal Ministry of Education and managed through Zenith Bank.

Reacting to the successful fundraising, Peter Obi reiterated his stance, wishing the First Lady well on her birthday but expressing continued shock and describing the gesture as a “misplaced priority.” He maintained his concern about her call for donations instead of traditional gifts, despite the evident success and positive impact of the initiative on national development and education.