I never asked Nigerians abroad to abandon families — Obi
Peter Obi has clarified his remarks to Nigerians abroad, stating he never asked them to abandon their families but to advocate for a better Nigeria. Read More:…
Peter Obi, who contested the 2023 presidential election under the Labour Party and has remained a prominent opposition voice, often addressing Nigeria's economic struggles and the role of the diaspora in sustaining families back home through remittances. Nigeria is one of the largest recipients of diaspora remittances in Africa, with millions of households relying on money sent by relatives abroad to cover basic needs, a dependence Obi has previously criticised as a symptom of poor governance and economic mismanagement rather than a sustainable solution.
The controversy stems from earlier comments attributed to Obi urging Nigerians abroad to resist persistent requests for money from relatives at home, remarks that were interpreted by some as telling the diaspora to abandon their family obligations. Both Punch and Daily Trust report that Obi has now sought to clarify his position, with Daily Trust's headline suggesting he is explaining the reasoning behind his original comments, while Punch frames it more directly as a denial that he ever called for Nigerians abroad to cut off their families. Neither report yet details the specific context in which the original remarks were made or the full extent of his clarification.