The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has defended his remarks urging Nigerians living in the United Kingdom to reject requests for money from people back home, accusing political opponents of distorting his message.

Obi said he never asked Nigerians in the diaspora to abandon their families but was advocating a country where citizens could meet their basic needs without depending on relatives abroad.

In a post on his X account on Tuesday, the former Anambra State governor said he considered it necessary to address what he described as the misrepresentation of his remarks, despite a clarification previously issued by his media office.

“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 acknowledged the sacrifices of Nigerians living abroad who support their families financially, 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.

He, however, maintained that his concern was the economic situation forcing millions of Nigerians to depend on relatives overseas for survival.

“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.

The former governor said Nigeria must create an environment where citizens have access to jobs, affordable healthcare, quality education and economic opportunities to support themselves and their families.

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

Accusing unnamed political opponents of twisting his message, Obi reiterated that his intention was to advocate better governance and improved living conditions.

“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 post by wishing Nigerians at home and abroad well, saying, “God bless Nigerians at home and abroad. God bless Nigeria.”

Obi’s clarification followed his remarks at a town hall meeting with Nigerians in Manchester, United Kingdom, where he urged Nigerians living abroad to stop automatically responding to financial demands from people back home.

Addressing the gathering, he argued that Nigeria needed leadership capable of creating conditions in which citizens could meet their basic needs without relying on relatives overseas.

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

The remarks sparked reactions, with some interpreting them as a call for Nigerians abroad to withdraw financial support from their relatives. Obi has since insisted that his position was not against family assistance but a call for a country where citizens would not have to depend on diaspora remittances to survive.