{
  "id": 15866064,
  "title": "Nobody twisted your statement, Onanuga tackles Obi over diaspora comments",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/21/nobody-twisted-your-statement-onanuga-tackles-obi-over-diaspora",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-21T09:08:15.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch",
    "slug": "punch",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/nobody-twisted-your-statement-onanuga-tackles-obi-over-diaspora-comments/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has refuted presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, on his comments about Nigerians living abroad. Onanuga maintained that Obi had not clarified his Manchester remarks, which he believed were not misrepresented. Onanuga accused Obi of failing to address his earlier statement, affirming the same in a follow-up post on X. The former Anambra State Governor had accused political opponents of misrepresenting his comments about the contributions of Nigerians in the diaspora. Obi had expressed gratitude towards Nigerians living abroad for their financial support, which helped their families with various expenses. However, he stressed that he was not asking them to abandon their loved ones. Instead, he was concerned about the heavy reliance of millions of citizens on relatives overseas for their basic needs. Obi urged Nigeria to create opportunities for its citizens, enabling them to provide for themselves. He emphasized that his comments were aimed at encouraging the government to build a nation that offers jobs, affordable healthcare, quality education, and economic opportunities for its people.",
  "summary": "President Tinubu’s aide, Bayo Onanuga, has faulted Peter Obi’s explanation of his remarks about Nigerians abroad, insisting his original message was not tw Read More: https://punchng.com/nobody-twisted-your-statement-onanuga-tackles-obi-over-diaspora-comments/",
  "key_points": [
    "Bayo Onanuga refutes Peter Obi's comments on diaspora contributions",
    "Onanuga accuses Obi of not clarifying Manchester remarks",
    "Obi thanks Nigerians abroad for financial support, urges job creation"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The clash over diaspora contributions highlights a deepening political divide regarding how much responsibility the state holds for the economic welfare of citizens versus the financial support provided by those abroad.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Punch Nigeria",
        "title": "Nobody twisted your statement, Onanuga tackles Obi over diaspora comments",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/21/nobody-twisted-your-statement-onanuga-tackles-obi-over-diaspora-15868294",
        "published": "2026-10-21T09:08:15.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}