Obi deny say e tell diaspora Nigerians to stop family support
- Peter Obi say political opponents misrepresent wetin e talk for Manchester town hall.
- One presidential aide insist say Obi really urge Nigerians abroad to stop sending money home.
- Obi say im real point be say Nigeria suppose create jobs so families no need depend on remittances.
Peter Obi, di presidential candidate of di Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), don move to clear up wetin e mean when e talk to supporters for Manchester, United Kingdom, about money Nigerians abroad dey send home.
For one statement wey e sign and post on X on Tuesday, Obi say dem turn im words to something wey e no talk. E insist say e never tell Nigerians for diaspora to stop supporting dia relatives.
For di town hall, according to reports of di event, Obi tell di people wey dey there say relatives back home wey dey always ask for money suppose hear no, and say make dem support leaders wey go make di country work. Dem widely report dat remark as call for Nigerians abroad to stop sending money home.
Wetin Obi talk now
Obi say e respect di effort of Nigerians abroad, noting say dia remittances dey cover school fees, hospital bills, rent and food for many families.
Im argument, e talk, be say Nigeria no suppose be country where millions dey survive only because relatives overseas dey send money. E want jobs, affordable healthcare, good schools and opportunities wey go let people stand on dia own.
“I no dey ask Nigerians abroad to abandon dia families. I dey advocate for Nigeria wey no go abandon im own people again,” e talk.
Di clarification come after im media office don already issue one statement on di matter. Obi talk say e still feel say e need to talk personally because of how dem dey present im message.
Di Presidency push back
Di Presidency no accept di explanation. Dada Olusegun, Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Social Media, talk for one statement on Tuesday say nobody distort anything.
Olusegun talk say wetin Obi talk clear and accuse am say e dey run campaign wey dey turn people against each other, including Nigerians abroad against those for home. E talk say such tactics fail for 2023 and go fail again for 2027.
Di exchange show how quickly diaspora remittances, wey many Nigerian households dey depend on, don become campaign issue ahead of di 2027 general elections.
Wetin go happen next: Both sides don put dia positions for record. Obi dey expected to keep making im case for diaspora meetings, while di Presidency appear ready to respond each time.
