Peter Obi needs serious counselling, Bayo Onanuga says after a row over Obi’s comments on diaspora remittances and Nigerians supporting families at home
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, has said Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate Peter Obi needs serious counselling over comments concerning Nigerians in the diaspora and financial support for relatives at home.
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Onanuga made the criticism on Wednesday in a post on X, days after Peter Obi addressed Nigerians living in the United Kingdom at a town hall meeting in Manchester.
The presidential aide said Peter Obi’s recent public statements reflected what he described as a troubling pattern of gaffes, inconsistencies and incoherence.
“Peter Obi needs some counselling, not ordinary counselling. All those gaffes, inconsistencies, and incoherence are forming a worrisome pattern. I seriously think that he needs help,” Onanuga wrote.
The exchange followed remarks made by Peter Obi during the Manchester meeting on Sunday, October 18, when the former Anambra State governor urged Nigerians abroad to challenge requests for money from relatives in Nigeria and encourage them to support capable political leaders.
“You have people at home in Nigeria today who are begging you for money. Tell them no! Let’s put somebody who has proven to be productive,” Peter Obi said.
Peter Obi linked the dependence on relatives abroad to poor governance and argued that continued financial assistance could ease the immediate effects of economic hardship without addressing the underlying problems.
The comments quickly became politically contentious, with the Labour Party, New Nigeria Peoples Party and Social Democratic Party among opposition groups reported to have criticised the position.
The groups argued that remittances remain an important lifeline for vulnerable Nigerian households.
Peter Obi subsequently rejected the interpretation that he was asking Nigerians in the diaspora to abandon their families.
In a statement posted on X on Tuesday, Peter Obi said his message had been twisted by political opponents and acknowledged the sacrifices made by Nigerians living abroad.
“I deeply appreciate Nigerians in the diaspora who work tirelessly and make enormous sacrifices to support their families back home,” he said, noting that their remittances help cover school fees, hospital bills, rent and feeding expenses.
Peter Obi said his concern was that Nigeria should not remain a country where millions of people depend on relatives abroad for basic survival.
“Our goal must be to build a nation that provides jobs, affordable healthcare, quality education, and economic opportunities for its citizens,” he said.
Onanuga, however, rejected the explanation, saying Peter Obi had not clarified the original remarks.
“Mr Peter Obi, you failed to clarify your Manchester callous statement. Nobody twisted your statement. Thank you for affirming it again,” Onanuga wrote on Wednesday.
The dispute has taken on added significance because diaspora remittances play a substantial role in Nigeria’s economy and household finances.
The Central Bank of Nigeria has described remittances as an important source of foreign exchange and support for household consumption, education and healthcare.
In its 2025 economic report, the bank said workers’ remittances rose by 7.50 per cent to $5.30bn in the second quarter of 2025.
The CBN’s 2026 outlook also projected a surplus of $26.13bn in Nigeria’s secondary income account, partly on expectations of stronger diaspora remittance inflows through formal channels.
The Federal Government has simultaneously pursued measures aimed at making remittance transfers more transparent and accessible.
In March 2026, the CBN introduced additional requirements for international money transfer operators, including the use of designated naira settlement accounts with authorised dealer banks.
The controversy therefore extends beyond a political exchange.
For many Nigerian families, money sent from relatives abroad helps meet immediate household expenses, while for Peter Obi, the wider issue is whether such support should remain a substitute for effective governance and economic opportunity.
Peter Obi, who contested the 2023 presidential election under the Labour Party, is now the NDC presidential candidate for the 2027 election.
The latest confrontation with the Presidency comes as political activity around the next general election gathers pace.
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For now, neither side appears ready to retreat. Onanuga has maintained that Peter Obi’s original words were clear, while Peter Obi has insisted that his broader argument was about building a country where Nigerians no longer need to depend on relatives abroad simply to meet basic needs.
