The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has sparked widespread public debate after urging Nigerians living in the United Kingdom to stop sending money home to relatives until President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is voted out of office in 2027.
Speaking to a crowd of UK-based Nigerians during a diaspora interaction session in London, the former Anambra State governor argued that continuous financial remittances from citizens abroad inadvertently shield the ruling administration from political accountability by cushioning the severe economic hardships felt back home. Advising the diaspora community to use their financial support as political leverage, Obi remarked, “You have people at home who are begging you for money. Tell them no. Let’s put somebody who has proven capability.”
He further criticized systemic corruption under the current administration, claiming that funds meant for basic infrastructure like schools and hospitals are regularly misappropriated while foreign remittances serve as a temporary band-aid.
The comments quickly gained traction on social media, triggering sharp reactions from political opponents and public commentators alike. Critics accused the NDC candidate of being insensitive, arguing that asking the diaspora to withhold funds targets vulnerable family members who depend on foreign remittances for essential needs such as food, rent, and healthcare.
Conversely, supporters of Obi defended the statement, maintaining that his words were meant as a wake up call to emphasize that diaspora funding cannot substitute for good governance and structural economic reform.
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