The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has denied asking Nigerians living in the United Kingdom to abandon relatives who depend on them for financial support, saying his comments on the country’s economic hardship were misrepresented by political opponents.
Obi clarified his position in a statement titled “My Message Has Been Twisted”, published on X on Tuesday, where he expressed appreciation for Nigerians in the diaspora who make significant sacrifices to support their families back home.
The former Anambra State governor stressed that he never asked Nigerians abroad to stop assisting their loved ones, noting that remittances from the diaspora remain vital in helping many households meet essential needs, including 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,” he said.
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“Their remittances pay for school fees, hospital bills, rent, and feeding expenses. Their patriotism and sacrifices deserve our profound respect. I never asked them to abandon their loved ones.”
Obi explained that his message was intended to draw attention to the economic conditions forcing millions of Nigerians to depend on relatives abroad for their basic needs.
He argued that Nigeria should strive towards an economy in which citizens can provide for themselves and their families through access to employment, affordable healthcare, quality education and sustainable economic opportunities.
“My concern is that Nigeria should not remain a country where millions depend on relatives abroad for basic survival,” he stated.
“Our goal must be to build a nation that provides jobs, affordable healthcare, quality education, and economic opportunities for its citizens.”
The NDC flagbearer accused political opponents of distorting his remarks, insisting that his position was not against financial assistance from Nigerians abroad but rather a call to address the underlying causes of poverty and economic hardship.
“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 added.
The clarification followed criticism of comments Obi made during a town hall meeting with diaspora supporters in Manchester on Sunday.
In a video that subsequently went viral, Obi urged Nigerians in the UK to decline requests for money from relatives and others in Nigeria, arguing that such financial assistance, while providing temporary relief, might not resolve the structural problems responsible for widespread hardship.
“You have people at home in Nigeria today who are begging you for money. Tell them no!” he said.
During the engagement, Obi attributed Nigeria’s economic difficulties to poor leadership and called on Nigerians in the diaspora to encourage their relatives and friends at home to support leaders who would prioritise productivity, job creation and economic opportunities.
His latest clarification seeks to distinguish his criticism of Nigeria’s economic dependence on diaspora remittances from the support Nigerians abroad provide to their families, maintaining that the ultimate objective should be a country where citizens can meet their basic needs without relying on relatives overseas.
