Former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has said that some internet fraudsters, commonly referred to as “Yahoo boys,” possess remarkable creativity that could contribute to national development if properly guided.
“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,” Obi stated on Saturday in Onitsha, Anambra State.
He made the remarks while speaking at the “Golden Health” conference held at the Archbishop Patterson Auditorium, All Saints’ Cathedral, Onitsha.
The event, themed “Money beyond wealth,” aimed to encourage ethical leadership and moral renewal among young people.
Obi explained that he returned early from a two-day meeting in the United Kingdom to attend the conference, as it addressed “a vice that has eroded our values — the greed for material possessions.”
He warned that Nigeria cannot achieve progress while corruption and dishonesty continue to be celebrated, adding that true wealth lies beyond financial gain.
“Real wealth uplifts both the individual and society, promotes education, reduces poverty, and creates opportunities for others to live dignified lives,” he wrote on X.
Obi emphasised that the obsession with materialism has weakened Nigeria’s moral foundation, noting that no nation can advance when its leaders fail to model integrity.
“Leadership must lead by example, for a nation that rewards dishonesty cannot build integrity,” he said.
He urged young Nigerians to rediscover the dignity of labour and the value of hard work, stressing that nations are built “not by miracles but by men and women who think, work, and build.”
The LP leader further called for justice and fairness in governance, insisting that progress requires unity and shared responsibility rather than ethnic or religious divisions.
“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,” he said.
Obi also expressed gratitude to Owen Nwokolo, bishop of the Diocese on the Niger, for his mentorship and commended the organisers of the event for their commitment to promoting discipline and value-driven leadership among Nigerian youths.