Obi’s diaspora remarks spark debate, as POMR issues clarification

By Goodness Ndukuba, Awka

A remark by Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), to Nigerians living in the United Kingdom has sparked wide debate online after he urged the diaspora to stop merely sending money home and instead focus on electing better leaders.

Speaking at a town hall meeting with supporters in Manchester on Monday, Obi said Nigeria’s economic hardship could not be solved by remittances alone.

“You have people at home in Nigeria today who are begging you for money. Tell them no!” Obi told the gathering, in a video clip that has since gone viral.

According to him, financial support from abroad offers temporary relief to struggling households but fails to address the underlying cause of the crisis, poor governance.

He argued that the diaspora’s real power lies not just in financial transfers, but in its influence over relatives at home to demand accountability at the ballot box as the country approaches the 2027 general election.

The former Anambra State governor linked his argument to his record in office, insisting that responsible management of public resources was possible.

“I’m not saying I’m a saint, but I saved money,” Obi said.

The comment triggered mixed reactions. While some supporters praised the call for long-term systemic change, others criticised it as insensitive to families who depend on diaspora funds for school fees, medical bills and food in the face of rising cost of living.

In a swift response, the Peter Obi Media Reach (POMR) issued a statement on Monday, titled: “PETER OBI DID NOT CALL ON NIGERIANS LIVING ABROAD TO ABANDON THEIR FAMILIES.”

The media office said those sharing the video had removed the broader context and edited it to fit an agenda.

Spokesman Idris Zekeri Jnr said Obi never intended to encourage Nigerians abroad to abandon their loved ones, adding that he recognises the daily sacrifices the diaspora makes to keep families afloat.

“The central point of his message is that Nigeria must function effectively once again,” the statement read.

“A nation with such abundant human and natural resources should not force millions of its citizens to rely on relatives overseas for necessities.”

According to POMR, Obi’s vision is for a Nigeria where citizens have access to decent employment, affordable healthcare, quality education and a dignified standard of living without constant appeals to relatives abroad.

“He is not asking Nigerians abroad to stop supporting their families. Rather, he is advocating for a Nigeria in which their families will no longer need to depend on them in order to survive,” the statement added.

“This is the distinction between alleviating poverty’s symptoms and confronting its underlying causes.”

Obi’s clarification reframes the conversation from remittances to governance.

For many diaspora families, the dilemma remains real, how to press for better leadership without withdrawing support from relatives facing immediate hardship.

With the cost-of-living pressure deepening and the 2027 polls approaching, Obi is betting that his message of leadership accountability will resonate both at home and abroad, where he is urging Nigerians to look beyond short-term financial help and demand sustainable economic progress.