Former presidential candidate of Labour Party, LP, Peter Obi has urged youths to reject politics driven by money and manipulation.
In a video recorded during his talk at Johns Hopkins University in Washington, D.C., Obi condemned the growing trend of transactional politics where politicians allegedly pay young people to attack and discredit voices promoting good governance on social media.
Obi described the situation as tragic and ironic, noting that youths being paid to spread misinformation are the same ones he fights for.
He emphasised the need for a political awakening among youths, encouraging them to pursue knowledge, critical thinking and civic engagement instead of accepting handouts from corrupt politicians.
According to Obi, youths should be empowered with knowledge, not stipends to insult those seeking change.
He called on young people to engage actively in civic matters, demanding good governance and accountability from leaders.
“In the transactional politics of Nigeria, some people pay them to cause confusion. Go to social media, those that are being paid ₦20,000, ₦40,000 monthly to abuse you are the same youths you are fighting for their lives because I am over 60 and I have few years to go.
“We must move away from politics driven by money and manipulation. Our youths must be empowered with knowledge, not stipends to insult those seeking change”, Obi said.
