The Peter Obi Media Office has pushed back against claims that the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate urged Nigerians living abroad to abandon their families at home, saying his message was about ending the economic hardship that makes millions of households depend on relatives overseas for survival.

In a statement issued on Monday night and signed by its spokesman, Idris Zekeri Jnr., the office said the controversy arose from what it described as a distorted presentation of Obi’s remarks during an engagement with Nigerians in Europe, alleging that portions of the video had been edited and stripped of the context needed to understand his message.

Zekeri said Obi neither intended to discourage support for family members nor questioned the sacrifices Nigerians in the diaspora make for their loved ones.

The office acknowledged that many Nigerians abroad shoulder significant financial responsibilities at home, including paying school fees, covering medical bills, providing food and helping relatives cope with difficult economic circumstances.

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