Peter Obi, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate for the 2027 election, has called on Nigerians residing in the United Kingdom to challenge relatives who frequently ask them for financial assistance and encourage them to support a change in Nigeria’s leadership.
Obi made the appeal on Sunday during a town hall meeting with supporters in the UK as he prepares to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
Speaking to the gathering, the former Anambra State governor urged Nigerians abroad to persuade their relatives at home to prioritise political change instead of constantly seeking financial support from overseas.
“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.
He added, “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.”
Obi also challenged former governors to show that they had saved a substantial amount of public money while in office, arguing that his own record could serve as a point of comparison.
“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 argued that Nigeria could achieve meaningful progress if citizens rejected corruption and the alleged misappropriation of public funds, which he blamed for the country’s inadequate infrastructure.
“That is how the countries change. Countries change by people saying, hey, wait a minute, enough of this,” Obi said, noting that funds allegedly diverted by public officials could instead have been used to build schools and hospitals.
He also reflected on a period when he believed public services were better managed, contrasting it with reports of public officials allegedly acquiring properties and missing government funds.
