According to a report by Punch Newspaper on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, has expressed concern over the growing hardship faced by Nigerians living abroad, stating that many citizens who have experienced xenophobic attacks in South Africa still prefer to remain there instead of returning to Nigeria.
Obi spoke on the issue shortly after returning to the country, where he attended a dinner organised for aspirants of the NDC in Abuja on Monday.
During the gathering, he reflected on the difficult realities confronting Nigerians both at home and outside the country.
Details of his remarks were made public in a statement released on Tuesday by the NDC media team.
According to the statement, Obi used the occasion to highlight the frustrations and disappointment many Nigerians abroad continue to endure, especially those living in South Africa.
He explained that several Nigerians affected by xenophobic violence and intimidation in South Africa had previously been offered support and facilities to enable them return home safely.
The effort, he noted, was aimed at assisting distressed citizens who were struggling to cope with attacks targeted at foreigners in the country.
Obi stated that despite the arrangements made for their return, many of the affected Nigerians turned down the opportunity.
According to him, the individuals insisted that the economic and social realities in Nigeria had become more unbearable than the conditions they were facing abroad.
The former governor said the responses he received from many of them reflected deep frustration about the situation in the country.
He noted that the unwillingness of Nigerians to return home, even after facing hostility overseas, showed the level of hardship and hopelessness many citizens currently feel.
He said, “If you don’t know, we provided facilities for them to come back. But most of them told me they would rather die there than come back. They said things are even worse at home……See More
Leave a Reply