Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has said his call on Nigerians living abroad to reject some requests for money from home was aimed at stressing the country’s economic hardship, not encouraging them to abandon their families.
Obi accused his political opponents of distorting his remarks at a town hall meeting with Nigerians in Manchester, United Kingdom, where he urged diaspora Nigerians to stop automatically responding to financial demands from relatives back home.
In a post on his X account on Tuesday, the former Anambra State governor said he appreciated Nigerians abroad who made sacrifices to support their families, including paying school fees, hospital bills, rent and feeding expenses.
“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 said.
Obi argued that the country needed an economy in which citizens could meet their basic needs without relying on financial assistance from relatives overseas.
He said the government’s priority should be to create jobs, provide affordable healthcare and quality education, and expand economic opportunities for Nigerians.
The NDC candidate said his earlier comments had been misrepresented despite a clarification from his media office, insisting that his intention was to draw attention to the consequences of poor governance.
“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.
At the Manchester meeting on Sunday, Obi had urged Nigerians in the UK to turn down requests for money from people at home, arguing that continued financial assistance could cushion the effects of poor leadership without addressing the underlying problems.
He also urged diaspora Nigerians to encourage their relatives to vote for productive leaders in the 2027 general election.
During the meeting, Obi defended his record as Anambra governor, claiming that he had saved more public funds than other state governors.
He acknowledged that he was not perfect but maintained that prudent management of public resources was essential to changing the country’s fortunes.
The remarks sparked mixed reactions, with some interpreting his appeal as a call to withdraw financial support from family members.
Obi, however, reiterated that his position was about building a country where citizens could provide for themselves and their loved ones without depending on remittances from abroad.
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