Peter Obi, former presidential candidate and Labour Party leader, has raised the alarm over what he calls the dangerous rise of transactional politics in Nigeria. Speaking during a lecture at Johns Hopkins University in Washington, D.C., Obi condemned the disturbing trend of politicians allegedly paying young people to attack reform advocates on social media.
In a video that began trending on Thursday, Obi described the practice as a betrayal of the very youth it exploits.
“In the transactional politics of Nigeria, some people pay them to cause confusion,” Obi said.
“Go to social media, those that are being paid ₦20,000, ₦40,000 monthly to abuse you are the same youths you’re fighting for… I am over 60 and I have few years to go.”
Calling the situation tragic and ironic, Obi criticized how young Nigerians—who should be at the forefront of change—are being turned into tools of oppression. He said these youths, instead of pushing for reforms, are often manipulated to defend a system that continues to fail them.
Obi urged young Nigerians to wake up and resist being used by corrupt politicians. Instead of settling for short-term financial handouts, he advised them to seek education, critical thinking, and civic engagement.
“We must move away from politics driven by money and manipulation,” he added.
“Our youths must be empowered with knowledge, not stipends to insult those seeking change.”
His comments come at a time when Nigeria’s digital political space is rife with disinformation and online harassment, often targeted at opposition voices and advocates of good governance.
