The Presidency has dismissed Peter Obi’s attempt to clarify his controversial remarks urging Nigerians in the United Kingdom to refuse financial requests from people back home, insisting that his original comments were neither misinterpreted nor distorted.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, criticized Obi’s explanation in a post on X, describing Obi’s statement at a Manchester town hall meeting as “callous.” Onanuga wrote, “Mr. Peter Obi, you failed to clarify your Manchester callous statement. Nobody twisted your statement. Thank you for affirming it again.”
This response came after Obi tried to address the backlash from his October 18 remarks in Manchester, where he told supporters: “You have people at home in Nigeria today who are begging you for money. Tell them no!” Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), said Nigerians abroad should reject financial appeals from home and instead encourage support for leaders with proven financial discipline.
Obi argued that Nigeria’s economic struggles stemmed largely from poor leadership and corruption, causing many citizens to depend on relatives abroad for support. His comments drew criticism, prompting his media office to clarify that he never asked Nigerians abroad to abandon their families. In a personal statement titled “My Message Has Been Twisted,” Obi accused political opponents of deliberately misrepresenting his position, emphasizing that his concern was Nigeria’s reliance on remittances for basic needs.
Obi acknowledged the sacrifices of Nigerians in the diaspora, noting their remittances help pay for education, healthcare, rent, and other essentials. He reiterated: “I never asked them to abandon their loved ones. My concern is that Nigeria should not remain a country where millions depend on relatives abroad for basic survival.”
He further stressed his vision for a Nigeria that provides jobs, affordable healthcare, quality education, and economic opportunities. “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,” Obi asserted.
Despite this clarification, Onanuga rejected Obi’s explanation, maintaining that the original remarks stood uncorrected. The ongoing exchange has fueled further controversy as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
