Onanuga Challenges Obi Over Diaspora Comments, Says Nobody Twisted His Words

Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga has challenged Peter Obi over his explanation of remarks he made to Nigerians living abroad, insisting that the former Anambra State governor’s original comments were not misrepresented. Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, made his position known in a post on X on Wednesday, October 21, following Obi’s clarification of his comments at a town hall meeting in Manchester, United Kingdom. “Mr Peter Obi, you failed to clarify your Manchester callous statement. Nobody twisted your statement. Thank you for affirming it again,” Onanuga wrote. The exchange followed criticism of Obi’s remarks during his interaction with Nigerians in Manchester, where he addressed the financial support many Nigerians abroad provide to relatives at home. During the meeting, the former Anambra governor urged members of the diaspora to reconsider responding automatically to requests for money from Nigeria, arguing that the country needed leadership capable of creating opportunities for citizens to meet their basic needs. “You have people at home in Nigeria today who are begging you for money. Tell them no!” Obi told the gathering. His remarks generated reactions, with some interpreting them as a call for Nigerians abroad to stop supporting their families financially. Obi subsequently defended his position in a statement published on his X account on Tuesday, saying his message had been distorted by political opponents. He stressed that he appreciated the sacrifices of Nigerians living abroad, particularly those who regularly send money home to support relatives. “I deeply appreciate Nigerians in the diaspora who work tirelessly and make enormous sacrifices to support their families back home. Their remittances pay for school fees, hospital bills, rent, and feeding expenses. Their patriotism and sacrifices deserve our profound respect,” he wrote. Obi maintained that he had not asked Nigerians abroad to abandon their loved ones. Instead, he said his concern was that millions of citizens depended on relatives overseas to afford essential needs. “I never asked them to abandon their loved ones. My concern is that Nigeria should not remain a country where millions depend on relatives abroad for basic survival,” he stated. He argued that the government should prioritise creating jobs, improving access to affordable healthcare and quality education, and expanding economic opportunities so Nigerians could provide for themselves and their families. “Our goal must be to build a nation that provides jobs, affordable healthcare, quality education, and economic opportunities for its citizens,” Obi added. The former governor also maintained that his message was about addressing the economic conditions that make financial assistance from abroad necessary for many households. “Political opponents may twist my message, but the truth remains clear: I am not asking Nigerians abroad to abandon their families. I am advocating for a Nigeria that will no longer abandon its own people,” he said. However, Onanuga rejected Obi’s explanation, arguing that the clarification did not resolve the controversy surrounding the original remarks. The disagreement has centred on the distinction between encouraging Nigerians abroad to reconsider how they respond to financial requests and advocating an end to family support. While Obi has presented his comments as a call for improved governance and economic self-sufficiency, Onanuga maintains that the original statement was not misrepresented. The exchange comes as political discussions intensify ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, with economic hardship, governance and the responsibilities of political leadership remaining prominent public concerns. Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, has repeatedly advocated better management of public resources and economic opportunities as part of his political message. The latest exchange adds to the public debate over his remarks and the broader question of how Nigeria can reduce household dependence on financial support from relatives living abroad without overlooking the important role diaspora remittances play in supporting families.