Obi denies asking Nigerians abroad to abandon families, says he was quoted out of context

Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has denied asking Nigerians living abroad to stop supporting their families back home, insisting that his remarks were taken out of context and misrepresented by political opponents.

In a statement titled “My Message Has Been Twisted,” Obi said he deeply appreciates Nigerians in the diaspora whose remittances help pay for school fees, hospital bills, rent, food and other essential needs. He stressed that he never asked them to abandon their loved ones.

The clarification follows controversy over his remarks at a town hall meeting in Manchester, United Kingdom, where he urged Nigerians abroad to tell people requesting money from home to say no. His comments triggered criticism and debate over the importance of diaspora remittances to struggling Nigerian families.

Obi explained that his central concern was the economic situation forcing millions of Nigerians to depend on relatives overseas for basic survival. He argued that Nigeria should create jobs, provide affordable healthcare and quality education, and offer economic opportunities that allow citizens to support themselves.

The NDC candidate accused political opponents of twisting his message, maintaining that his goal was not to stop family support but to advocate for better governance so Nigerians would no longer have to depend on relatives abroad to survive.

Was Obi’s original message misunderstood, or did his choice of words create room for controversy? Join the discussion as we examine his clarification and the debate over remittances, hardship and governance ahead of the 2027 election.