The Presidency has criticised Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), over comments he made during an engagement with Nigerians in the United Kingdom.
The controversy stems from a town hall meeting held in Manchester on Sunday, October 18, 2026, where Obi was quoted as telling Nigerians in the diaspora to decline financial requests from relatives back home.
“You have people at home in Nigeria today who are begging you for money. Tell them no!” Obi was quoted as saying, while urging diaspora Nigerians to push for leaders with a record of productivity and good governance.
The remarks triggered backlash, with many interpreting it as a call for Nigerians abroad to cut off remittances that many families rely on for school fees, hospital bills, rent and feeding.
Reacting on Tuesday, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, described the comment as wicked and desperate in a post on his verified X account. Bwala argued that the statement placed political ambition above family welfare.
Also reacting, the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, rejected Obi’s subsequent clarification. In a post on X, Onanuga said, “Mr Peter Obi, you failed to clarify your Manchester callous statement. Nobody twisted your statement.”
Similarly, the Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, said Obi’s message was clear and accused him of using divisive rhetoric ahead of the 2027 general election.
Obi, in a personal statement titled “My Message Has Been Twisted”, said his comments were misrepresented by political opponents. He said his media office had earlier issued a clarification, but he needed to address the distortion himself.
He maintained that he did not ask Nigerians abroad to abandon their families, stressing that diaspora remittances remain crucial to millions of households. He said his concern was that Nigeria should build an economy where citizens are not forced to depend on relatives abroad for basic survival.
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