Peter Obi Defends UK Remarks, Says He Never Asked Nigerians to Abandon Families

Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has defended his remarks urging Nigerians living in the United Kingdom to reject requests for money from people back home, insisting that he never asked them to stop supporting their families.

The former Anambra State governor said political opponents had misrepresented his message, despite a clarification previously issued by his media office. In a post on X on Tuesday, October 20, Obi explained that his concern was Nigeria’s continued dependence on financial support from citizens living abroad.

“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,” he wrote.

Obi praised Nigerians in the diaspora for the sacrifices they make to support relatives at home. He noted that money sent from abroad helps families pay for school fees, hospital bills, rent and food, and said their contributions deserved respect.

“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,” he stated.

He stressed that his comments were not intended to encourage Nigerians abroad to abandon their loved ones. Instead, he argued that the country needed an economy in which citizens could meet their basic needs without depending on relatives overseas.

“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 said.

The NDC candidate called for a country that provides jobs, affordable healthcare, quality education and economic opportunities, allowing people to support themselves and their families. He added that political criticism would not change his position that Nigeria needed better governance and improved living conditions.

“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, before wishing Nigerians at home and abroad well.

The clarification followed Obi’s remarks at a town hall meeting with Nigerians in Manchester, where he urged attendees not to automatically meet financial requests from people in Nigeria. “You have people at home in Nigeria today who are begging you for money. Tell them no!” he told the gathering. The comments prompted criticism from some who interpreted them as a call to stop sending money to family members.