Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has raised concerns about the alarming trend of transactional politics in Nigeria, where young people are allegedly paid to discredit advocates for good governance on social media. Speaking at Johns Hopkins University in Washington, D.C., Obi described this practice as a betrayal of the youth whose futures are at stake.
Obi stated, “In the transactional politics of Nigeria, some people pay them to cause confusion. Those being paid ₦20,000 or ₦40,000 monthly to abuse you are the same youths you’re fighting for.” He highlighted the tragic irony that these young Nigerians, who should be champions of reform, are being weaponized against the very changes they need.
He called for a political awakening among the youth, urging them to reject monetary incentives from corrupt politicians and instead embrace knowledge and civic responsibility. “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,” he emphasized.
Obi’s remarks come amid rising online misinformation and targeted harassment against opposition voices in Nigeria’s political landscape.
