NEWS
Stop Sending Money to Relatives Without Demanding Political Change — Peter Obi to Nigerians in UK
The 2027 presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has called on Nigerians living in the United Kingdom to encourage their relatives back home to support political change rather than continually seeking financial assistance from them.
Obi made the appeal on Sunday during a town hall meeting with supporters in the UK, where he sought to rally Nigerians in the diaspora behind his political ambition ahead of the 2027 presidential election, in which he intends to challenge President Bola Tinubu.
The former Anambra State governor urged Nigerians abroad to use their influence within their families and communities to promote accountability, responsible leadership and a change in the country’s political direction. He argued that the financial support many Nigerians in the diaspora regularly provide to relatives at home should be accompanied by conversations about the need to address the country’s underlying political and economic challenges.
Speaking to participants at the gathering, Obi explained that the meeting was intended to encourage Nigerians to examine the issues affecting the country and consider working with leaders they believe could offer a different approach to governance.
“I need you people and that is why I’m having lunch with you today. This lunch is for you to say, this man came and what he said is the reality of our problem. Let’s work with him,” he said.
Obi’s appeal centred on his argument that individual financial assistance, while often necessary for families struggling with economic hardship, cannot by itself resolve the wider problems confronting Nigeria. He encouraged Nigerians in the diaspora to engage their relatives in discussions about leadership, public accountability and the importance of making informed political choices.
He was particularly direct in urging Nigerians abroad to challenge family members who repeatedly request money without considering the political circumstances contributing to their difficulties.
“You have people at home who are begging you for money. Tell them no. Let’s put somebody who has proven, I said I’m not a saint, but at least I have said something.”
The NDC presidential candidate also addressed the issue of corruption and the management of public resources, presenting his own record in public office as a basis for evaluating leadership and accountability.
Obi challenged former governors to demonstrate how much public money they had saved during their respective tenures, suggesting that the management of public funds should be a central consideration when Nigerians assess the records of political officeholders.
He acknowledged that he was not claiming to be perfect but maintained that Nigerians should be willing to examine the records of public officials and distinguish between different approaches to governance.
“So, let’s start with this one who is maybe less corrupt. We are not saying it is all, but let’s not pretend it is not happening,” he said.
The former governor further argued that Nigeria’s development challenges could not be separated from concerns about corruption, alleged misappropriation of public funds and the failure to provide essential public services.
According to him, resources that should ordinarily support education, healthcare and other critical sectors could make a substantial difference in the lives of ordinary Nigerians if they were properly managed and directed towards public needs.
Obi maintained that meaningful national transformation would require citizens to reject the normalisation of corruption and demand greater transparency from those entrusted with public resources.
“That is how the countries change. Countries change by people saying, hey, wait a minute, enough of this,” Obi said.
He linked the country’s infrastructure and public-service challenges to concerns over how government resources are utilised, arguing that funds allegedly diverted by public officials could otherwise have been invested in schools, hospitals and other facilities needed by the population.
The NDC candidate also reflected on what he described as a period when public services were better managed, contrasting his recollection with reports of public officials allegedly accumulating properties and cases involving missing public funds.
His remarks placed financial accountability at the centre of his message to Nigerians in the diaspora, many of whom provide regular financial assistance to family members facing economic pressures at home.
Obi’s engagement with supporters in the UK comes as political actors begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 general election. His message sought to extend the conversation beyond campaign support, urging Nigerians abroad to influence discussions within their families about governance, public spending and the country’s future.
While his appeal focused on the relationship between diaspora remittances and political accountability, it also underscored the broader question of how Nigerians can hold public officials responsible for the management of national resources and the delivery of essential services.
As political activities gather momentum ahead of 2027, Obi’s remarks add to the ongoing debate over corruption, leadership and the role citizens at home and abroad can play i
n shaping Nigeria’s political direction.