Former presidential aide and Ambassador-designate to Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala, and Nicaragua, Reno Omokri, has responded to an X user who urged him to withdraw his children from school after he praised roadside food vending as a viable source of income.
The exchange began after Omokri said he bought roasted corn in Istanbul and noted that about seven million people in Turkey—roughly 20% of the workforce—earn a living through roadside street food businesses. “Having your own roadside food business is far better than joblessness,” he wrote.
An X user, Ahmad Muh Med, replied, “Drop your children out of school and empower them with such business.”
In response, Omokri rejected the suggestion, arguing that families occupy different economic and social levels and that progress is built through sacrifices made across generations. He said governments should create opportunities for citizens but are not responsible for making individuals wealthy.
Omokri also cited his family’s educational background, defended the dignity of honest labour, and referenced Turkish street vendors and Egyptian-born businessman Mohammed Al-Fayed as examples of entrepreneurship. He concluded that small-scale businesses provide a pathway to economic advancement and should not be belittled.
