The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has denied asking Nigerians living abroad to abandon their families back home, accusing political opponents of misrepresenting his comments on financial support for relatives in Nigeria.

Obi said his message was intended to draw attention to the economic challenges forcing millions of Nigerians to depend on family members overseas to meet their basic needs, rather than discourage Nigerians in the diaspora from supporting their loved ones.

The former Anambra State governor made the clarification in a statement posted on his X account on Tuesday, following public reactions to his remarks at a town hall meeting with Nigerians in Manchester, United Kingdom.

He said his media office had earlier issued a clarification but maintained that he needed to personally address what he described as the distortion of his message by political opponents.

“Even though my media office has issued a responsible clarification on the situation, I still find it necessary to add my voice to address the distortion of my message by political opponents,” he wrote.

Obi praised Nigerians living abroad for their sacrifices and continued financial assistance to families at home, noting that their remittances help millions of people pay school fees, hospital bills, rent and feeding expenses.

“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 said.

Clarifying his position, Obi stressed that he had never called on Nigerians abroad to withdraw financial assistance from their relatives.

“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,” Obi stated.

He argued that Nigeria should create an environment where citizens can earn a decent living and access essential services without depending heavily on relatives living overseas.

“Our goal must be to build a nation that provides jobs, affordable healthcare, quality education, and economic opportunities for its citizens,” he said.

The NDC presidential candidate further accused unnamed political opponents of deliberately twisting his message, insisting that his concern was about building a country capable of providing for its people.

“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 wrote.

He concluded his message by extending his goodwill to Nigerians both at home and abroad, saying, “God bless Nigerians at home and abroad. God bless Nigeria.”

Obi’s clarification followed his address to Nigerians in Manchester, where he urged members of the diaspora to reconsider automatically meeting financial requests from people back home.

According to a report by PUNCH Online, Obi told participants at the gathering that Nigerians living abroad should challenge the circumstances that make their relatives dependent on them for financial survival.

“You have people at home in Nigeria today who are begging you for money. Tell them no!” he said.

The comment generated mixed reactions, with some interpreting it as a call for Nigerians abroad to stop supporting their families financially.

However, Obi’s latest statement seeks to distinguish his criticism of Nigeria’s economic conditions from the personal decisions of diaspora Nigerians to assist their relatives.

His position centres on the need for improved governance, employment opportunities and access to essential services so that Nigerians can support themselves without relying on remittances as a primary means of survival.