April 25, (THEWILL) – Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, has accused Nigerian politicians of paying young people to harass advocates of good governance on social media.
Speaking in a video address delivered at Johns Hopkins University in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, Obi described the trend as “transactional politics” and a deep betrayal of Nigerian youths, whose future, he said, is tied to the nation’s political direction.
“Go to social media — those being paid ₦20,000, ₦40,000 monthly to insult you are the same youths we are fighting for. I’m over 60, I have just a few years left. They are the ones whose future is at stake,” Obi said.
He lamented the growing toxicity on digital platforms, often targeted at opposition figures and citizens advocating for political and societal reforms.
Obi painted a grim picture of how young Nigerians, who should be driving change, are instead being exploited to defend the same political system that marginalises them.
“In the transactional politics of Nigeria, some people pay them to cause confusion,” he added.
The former Anambra State governor called for urgent political enlightenment among Nigerian youths, urging them to reject short-term monetary incentives from corrupt politicians and instead embrace the fight for lasting change.
Obi stated, “We must move away from politics driven by money and manipulation.
“Our youths must be empowered with knowledge, not stipends to insult those seeking progress.”
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