Former Anambra State Governor and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has said that many young Nigerians involved in internet fraud — popularly known as “Yahoo boys” — are highly intelligent individuals who need redirection rather than condemnation.
Speaking in Onitsha during a youth-led convention where he was a guest speaker, Obi urged the nation to identify and channel the creativity of such youths into productive ventures that promote innovation and development.
“I told the youths that some of our so-called Yahoo boys are geniuses who need redirection, not condemnation. Their creativity and courage, if properly guided, can drive innovation and national development. Our challenge is to channel their energy from deception to productive enterprise,” Obi said in a statement.
He stressed that Nigeria cannot achieve greatness while tolerating corruption and celebrating dishonesty, adding that the same moral decay seen among internet fraudsters is also evident in the political class.
While acknowledging the importance of money, Obi emphasized that true wealth lies in integrity, character, and purpose.
“Real wealth uplifts both the individual and society, promotes education, reduces poverty, and creates opportunities for others to live dignified lives,” he noted.
Obi revealed that he cut short his foreign trip to attend the Onitsha event because he felt compelled to encourage Nigerian youths to pursue positive change and abandon the greed-driven culture eroding national values.
He also criticized the state of leadership in Nigeria, referencing the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) recent omission of Nigeria from Africa’s top growth list.
Addressing issues of violence and division, Obi urged Nigerians of all faiths to prioritize fairness and merit over religion or ethnicity.
“Whether Christian, Muslim, or traditionalist, no religion or tribe buys bread cheaper than another. Nigeria is blessed with abundant resources; what we lack is the will to do what is right. Once we embrace justice, fairness, and merit, our nation’s greatness will naturally unfold,” he concluded.
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Source:Africa Publicity
