The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has clarified his remarks urging Nigerians living abroad to reject requests for money from people back home, insisting that he never asked them to abandon their families.
Obi accused his political opponents of distorting his message, saying his concern was the economic situation forcing millions of Nigerians to depend on relatives overseas to meet their basic needs.
In a statement posted on his X account on Tuesday, the former Anambra State governor said his media office had already issued a clarification but he considered it necessary to address what he described as a misrepresentation of his position.
He wrote: “Even though my media office has issued a responsible clarification on the situation, I still find it necessary to add my voice to address the distortion of my message by political opponents.”
Obi acknowledged the sacrifices made by Nigerians in the diaspora to support their families, noting that remittances helped many households pay for essential needs.
He said: “I deeply appreciate Nigerians in the diaspora who work tirelessly and make enormous sacrifices to support their families back home.
“Their remittances pay for school fees, hospital bills, rent, and feeding expenses.
“Their patriotism and sacrifices deserve our profound respect.”
The former governor stressed that his remarks were not intended to discourage financial support for family members but to highlight the need for an economy in which Nigerians could provide for themselves without depending on relatives abroad.
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“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,” Obi stated.
He said the country needed to create more opportunities for citizens to earn a living and meet their families’ needs through employment, affordable healthcare and quality education.
“Our goal must be to build a nation that provides jobs, affordable healthcare, quality education, and economic opportunities for its citizens,” he said.
Reiterating his position, Obi accused unnamed political opponents of twisting his comments, maintaining that his message was centred on better governance and improved living conditions for Nigerians.
“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 wrote.
He concluded his message by extending his goodwill to Nigerians both at home and abroad, saying: “God bless Nigerians at home and abroad. God bless Nigeria.”
Obi’s clarification followed his remarks at a town hall meeting with Nigerians in Manchester, United Kingdom, where he urged those living abroad to stop automatically responding to financial requests from people back home.
According to a report by PUNCH, Obi told the gathering that Nigerians abroad should reject such requests, arguing that the country needed leadership capable of creating conditions in which citizens could meet their basic needs.
“You have people at home in Nigeria today who are begging you for money. Tell them no!” he said.
The remarks generated reactions, with some interpreting them as a call for Nigerians abroad to withdraw financial support from their relatives.
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