The Presidency has rejected Peter Obi’s claim that his remarks about Nigerians living abroad and their financial support for relatives back home were misrepresented, insisting that his comments were clear.
Dada Olusegun, Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Social Media, issued the response on Tuesday following the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC)’s clarification of his earlier remarks.
The controversy followed a town hall meeting Obi held with supporters in the United Kingdom, where he urged Nigerians in the diaspora to encourage relatives seeking financial assistance to support leaders capable of delivering good governance.
During the meeting, Obi said: “You have people at home in Nigeria today who are begging you for money. Tell them no! Let’s put somebody who has proven to be productive.”
The remarks subsequently drew interpretations that he was asking Nigerians abroad to stop sending money to their loved ones in the country.
Obi rejected that interpretation in a statement he personally signed on Tuesday, arguing that his message had been distorted by political opponents. He also noted that his media office had issued a clarification on the matter.
However, Olusegun maintained that the statement did not require further interpretation, arguing that the former Anambra State governor was attempting to distance himself from the meaning of his own words.
In his response, the presidential aide accused Obi of adopting divisive political messaging ahead of the 2027 general election.
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Olusegun alleged that the NDC candidate had repeatedly used rhetoric that created divisions among Nigerians, citing religion, regional differences and political disagreements as examples.
He further accused Obi of attempting to turn Nigerians living abroad against those at home, describing the controversy as another instance of what he characterised as contradictory statements by the opposition politician.
The presidential aide also argued that Obi’s political approach would not produce the desired outcome in the 2027 elections, maintaining that a similar strategy had failed in 2023.
“Trying to claim ‘MY MESSAGE HAS BEEN TWISTED’ won’t change what we all heard you say on video,” Olusegun wrote.
He added that Nigerians were capable of assessing political statements and deciding what they meant.
