Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has condemned those referring to his supporters as “street urchins” or “low-class Nigerians,” saying such remarks show deep contempt for ordinary citizens and the shared values that unite the country.
In a post on his X handle on Wednesday, Obi said it was “deeply unfortunate” that some privileged Nigerians have resorted to classist insults against citizens who align with his vision for a just and equitable society.
“Lately, I have heard a few people say that those who follow Peter Obi are low-class Nigerians, and some have even gone as far as calling them ‘street urchins’ and people of no value. It is deeply unfortunate that in today’s Nigeria, citizens now look down on fellow citizens in such a degrading manner,” he wrote.
Obi emphasized that his politics are rooted in empathy, inclusiveness, and service to humanity — not elitism. “I have never and will never look down on anyone, except to lift them up. After all, we can only rise by lifting others,” he stated.
He said his political journey has always been about standing with ordinary Nigerians whose voices have been suppressed by the political elite. “My involvement in politics has never been about associating with the so-called high and mighty, but about standing with ordinary Nigerians whose resources have been stolen by the same ‘big names’ who now parade themselves with titles,” he added.
Obi, who enjoys widespread grassroots support, described it as “morally wrong” to demean struggling citizens already weighed down by poverty and hardship. “No Nigerian is of no value. No Nigerian is a street urchin,” he said. “It speaks volumes about the state of our nation that everyday Nigerians are now battered by hardship to the point where their leaders refer to them as people of no value and as urchins.”
Reaffirming his commitment to fairness and compassion in leadership, Obi said true governance must be defined by care for the people. “Every Nigerian deserves dignity, opportunity, and care. True leadership is not about mocking the weak; it is about lifting them up,” he noted.
His comments come a day after he urged the Lagos State Government to exercise compassion in its ongoing demolition campaign, stressing that being legally right should never come at the expense of moral responsibility.
