Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has denied asking Nigerians living in the United Kingdom to abandon relatives who depend on them for financial support.
The former Anambra State governor said his comments about Nigeria’s economic hardship had been misrepresented by political opponents, stressing that he never encouraged Nigerians in the diaspora to stop helping their families back home.
In a statement titled “My Message Has Been Twisted,” published on his X account on Tuesday, Obi expressed appreciation to Nigerians abroad who make sacrifices to support their loved ones in Nigeria.
He noted that money sent home by Nigerians in the diaspora helps millions of families pay school fees, hospital bills, rent and feeding expenses.
“I deeply appreciate Nigerians in the diaspora who work tirelessly and make enormous sacrifices to support their families back home,” Obi said.
He added that their contributions and sacrifices deserved respect, insisting that he never asked them to abandon their loved ones.
According to him, his concern was that Nigeria should not remain a country where millions of citizens depend on financial assistance from relatives abroad to meet their basic needs.
Obi argued that the country should focus on creating jobs, providing affordable healthcare, improving the education system and expanding economic opportunities so that citizens can meet their needs without relying heavily on relatives overseas.
“Our goal must be to build a nation that provides jobs, affordable healthcare, quality education, and economic opportunities for its citizens,” he said.
The former governor accused his political opponents of twisting his message, maintaining that his intention was to draw attention to the economic conditions forcing many Nigerians to depend on family members living abroad.
“Political opponents may twist my message, but the truth remains clear: I am not asking Nigerians abroad to abandon their families. I am advocating for a Nigeria that will no longer abandon its own people,” he stated.
Obi’s Comments Spark Controversy
The clarification followed criticism of comments Obi made during a town hall meeting with Nigerians living in Manchester, United Kingdom, on Sunday.
During the meeting, a video of which later went viral on social media, Obi urged Nigerians in the UK to reconsider giving money to relatives and other people in Nigeria who regularly requested financial assistance.
He reportedly argued that continuing to send money home without addressing the underlying problems would not provide a lasting solution to the country’s economic challenges.
“You have people at home in Nigeria today who are begging you for money. Tell them no!” he said.
Obi also blamed Nigeria’s economic difficulties on poor leadership, urging Nigerians in the diaspora to encourage their relatives and friends at home to support leaders who would prioritise productivity, job creation and economic development.
His remarks generated mixed reactions, with some interpreting them as a call for Nigerians abroad to stop supporting their families, while others viewed them as an appeal for citizens to demand better governance.
However, in his latest statement, Obi insisted that his position was not against family support but against a system that leaves millions of Nigerians struggling to survive.
He maintained that Nigeria must develop an economy capable of providing citizens with the opportunities and resources they need to live with dignity, rather than leaving families to depend on remittances from abroad.
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