UK remittances: Obi needs ‘more than ordinary counselling’ — Onanuga

Presidential aide Bayo Onanuga has said former Anambra State governor Peter Obi needs “more than ordinary counselling”, accusing the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate of a pattern of gaffes, inconsistencies and incoherence.

Onanuga made the remark in a post on X on Tuesday while responding to a thread by Nigerian political commentator Japheth Omojuwa, amid controversy over Obi’s comments on financial remittances from Nigerians living abroad.

“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 controversy followed Obi’s address to Nigerians living in the United Kingdom at a town hall meeting in Manchester on Sunday, where he urged them to reject requests for money from people back home and encourage them to vote for capable leaders.

“You have people at home in Nigeria today who are begging you for money. Tell them no!” Obi said, arguing that financial assistance from abroad could ease hardship without addressing the underlying problems of poor governance.

The remarks attracted criticism, with opponents arguing that withholding financial support could worsen the hardship faced by families who depend on remittances for basic needs.

Obi subsequently said his message had been distorted, insisting that he did not ask Nigerians abroad to abandon their loved ones.

In a clarification posted on X, the former Anambra governor said he appreciated Nigerians in the diaspora who sent money home to cover school fees, hospital bills, rent and feeding expenses.

He said his concern was that Nigeria should not remain a country where millions of citizens depended on relatives abroad for basic survival, advocating better governance, jobs and economic opportunities.

However, in a separate post on X, Onanuga rejected Obi’s claim that his remarks had been distorted, insisting that the former governor had failed to clarify his original statement.

“Mr Peter Obi, you failed to clarify your Manchester callous statement. Nobody twisted your statement. Thank you for affirming it again,” Onanuga wrote.