Onanuga says Peter Obi needs counselling over diaspora money remarks
- Presidency spokesman Bayo Onanuga said Peter Obi needs counselling, citing a pattern of gaffes and incoherence.
- Obi told a UK town hall that Nigerians abroad should tell relatives begging for money to vote for productive leaders.
- Obi denied asking diaspora Nigerians to stop supporting relatives, saying opponents distorted his message.
Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga has said Peter Obi needs counselling, after the opposition politician's remarks about Nigerians abroad sending money home drew widespread attention.
Onanuga, who is Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, made the comment in a post on his X account on Wednesday. He described what he called a pattern of gaffes, inconsistencies and incoherence in Obi's public statements.
"Peter Obi needs some counselling, not ordinary counselling," Onanuga wrote, adding that he seriously thinks Obi needs help.
Obi, who ran for president in 2023, is the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and remains a leading opposition figure ahead of the 2027 general election.
What Obi said, and his denial
The row follows a town hall meeting Obi held with supporters in the United Kingdom. According to reports, he urged Nigerians abroad to tell relatives back home who ask them for money to vote for good governance.
"You have people at home in Nigeria today who are begging you for money. Tell them no! Let's put somebody who has proven to be productive," Obi was quoted as saying.
Obi has denied asking Nigerians in the diaspora to stop supporting their loved ones. His media office said in a statement on Monday night that the controversy came from a distorted presentation of his remarks in Europe, and alleged that parts of the video were edited and stripped of context.
In a statement he signed himself on Tuesday, Obi said his message had been twisted by political opponents, and that he felt the need to add his voice to his media team's clarification.
The full context of the original remarks was not immediately clear from the reports.
Why it matters
Money sent home by Nigerians abroad is a lifeline for many households, covering school fees, rent, food and small business capital. Anything that sounds like a call to cut that support touches a raw nerve, especially as families struggle with high prices.
The exchange also signals how quickly the 2027 campaign is heating up, with the presidency and the opposition trading words months before the vote.
What happens next: Obi's team is expected to keep pushing its explanation of the UK video, while the Presidency has shown it will respond publicly to his statements. Neither side has indicated any move beyond words so far.
