Peter Obi Defends UK Remarks, Says He Never Asked Nigerians in Diaspora to Abandon Families

Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate Peter Obi has defended his recent remarks to Nigerians living in the United Kingdom, saying his message has been distorted by political opponents.

Obi, in a statement titled “My Message Has Been Twisted,” said he was not asking Nigerians in the diaspora to abandon family members who depend on them financially, but was advocating for a country where citizens would no longer struggle to meet their basic needs.

The former Anambra State governor said he deeply appreciated Nigerians abroad who make sacrifices to support their relatives at home, noting that their remittances help pay for school fees, hospital bills, rent and feeding expenses.

He added that the contributions of Nigerians in the diaspora deserved respect, stressing that his concern was the country’s continued dependence on financial support from relatives living abroad.

According to Obi, Nigeria should strive to become a country that provides jobs, affordable healthcare, quality education and economic opportunities, rather than one where millions of citizens depend on family members abroad for survival.

He accused political opponents of distorting his message, insisting that his position was not an attempt to encourage Nigerians overseas to withdraw support from their loved ones.

“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.

Obi’s clarification followed the controversy surrounding his remarks during his recent visit to the United Kingdom, where he spoke about Nigerians abroad supporting relatives at home amid the country’s economic difficulties.

His statement sought to draw a distinction between discouraging family support and calling for a country where citizens can earn enough to provide for themselves and their families without depending on relatives overseas.

He concluded by wishing Nigerians at home and abroad well, adding, “God bless Nigerians at home and abroad. God bless Nigeria.”

“Peter Obi Will Defeat Even Jesus in a Free and Fair Election” - Political Associate MamaPee

A political associate of 2027 presidential hopeful Peter Obi, popularly identified as MamaPee, has claimed that the former Anambra State governor would defeat any political opponent in Nigeria if the 2027 election is free and fair.

MamaPee made the claim while discussing the political climate surrounding Obi and the challenges facing his campaign ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

According to her, Obi currently has the capacity to defeat any politician in the country if voters are allowed to freely choose their preferred candidate without interference.

“In a free and fair election, Peter Obi will win any politician right now in Nigeria that contests against him in a free and fair election,” she said.

She took the claim further by using a hypothetical comparison involving Jesus Christ, saying even the Christian figure would lose to Obi if he entered the Nigerian political contest.

“If Jesus comes to contest in this Nigeria politics, Obi will win. What are you people saying?” MamaPee stated.

Her comments have added to the growing political debate around Obi’s chances in the 2027 presidential election, particularly among his supporters who believe the former Anambra governor enjoys significant grassroots support.

MamaPee also pushed back against criticism that Obi has been playing a defensive role in the opposition space rather than taking a more aggressive political approach.

She questioned what Obi could realistically do when, in her view, the weight of the government is being directed against him.

“Obi is playing defense. What should he play? Someone that the whole weight of government is against,” she said.

Obi is expected to contest the 2027 presidential election under the National Democratic Congress (NDC), with the election expected to be one of the most closely watched political contests in Nigeria.

MamaPee’s remarks reflect the confidence among Obi’s supporters as political activities gather momentum ahead of the 2027 polls.

Credit: Instablog | Twitter 

Peter Obi: Despite 13-Month Doctors’ Strike, No Mass Deaths Were Recorded in Anambra

 

Former Anambra State Governor and NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has defended his administration’s handling of a 13-month doctors’ strike during his tenure, saying the prolonged industrial action did not result in mass deaths in the state.

Obi made the claim while speaking at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) conference in Rivers State, where he discussed the condition of Anambra’s healthcare system when he assumed office and the measures his administration took to improve it.

According to Obi, the state faced significant gaps in healthcare infrastructure at the time, including a lack of accredited schools of nursing and teaching hospitals.

“Doctors were on strike for 13 months and the only thing the doctors have never said is why they went on strike,” Obi said.

He recalled that when he became governor, Anambra had no accredited school of nursing, while the state university did not have a teaching hospital and some hospitals were not accredited.

“There was no single school of nursing accredited and university did not have a teaching hospital and hospitals were not accredited,” he said.

Obi said his administration initially invested in general hospitals but later changed its approach after encountering challenges with the system.

He explained that the government began working with agencies and church-owned institutions, providing funding to support healthcare delivery.

“So I decided after several months to deal with our doctors, so I put money in general hospital, then they transferred it somewhere else. Then I decided I’m going to work with the agencies, schools owned by the churches and I started funding them, then they started saying I’m supporting private sectors,” he said.

Defending his administration’s position during the dispute, Obi questioned the effect of the doctors’ prolonged absence on the state’s healthcare system.

“We had a disagreement. If the doctors were very effective, in 13 months there was no mass death, that means something is missing because after 13 months we are still alive and they were on strike,” he said.

The former governor maintained that the decisions taken by his administration eventually produced lasting improvements in Anambra’s healthcare sector.

He pointed to the growth in nursing education and the establishment of teaching hospitals as some of the outcomes of his approach.

“Go to Anambra State today, we have the highest numbers of schools of nursing, we have three teaching hospitals because of that decision I took,” Obi said.

Obi’s comments come as the 2027 presidential campaign gathers momentum, with candidates increasingly highlighting their records in public office as they seek to convince Nigerians of their capacity to govern.

Breaking: Kwankwaso’s Son Emerges NDC Deputy Governorship Candidate in Kano

Kwankwaso and Son

Mustapha Rabiu Kwankwaso, the eldest son of the New Democratic Congress (NDC) vice-presidential candidate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has been announced as the party’s deputy governorship candidate for Kano State.

The announcement marks a significant development in the party’s preparations ahead of the upcoming elections in Kano State, one of Nigeria’s most politically influential states.

Mustapha Kwankwaso will serve as the running mate to the NDC’s governorship candidate in the state, strengthening the party’s campaign structure as it seeks to challenge for power.

The nomination has attracted attention due to Mustapha’s family ties to former Kano State Governor and prominent political figure, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, who currently serves as the NDC’s vice-presidential candidate.

Supporters of the party have described the development as a strategic move aimed at consolidating support within Kano, while political observers are expected to closely monitor its impact on the state’s political landscape.

The NDC is among the parties positioning themselves for a competitive contest in Kano, a state that has historically played a key role in Nigeria’s electoral politics.

The emergence of Mustapha Kwankwaso as deputy governorship candidate is expected to add momentum to the party’s campaign efforts in the state.