Peter Obi slams critics for calling his supporters ‘street urchins’

Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has condemned those referring to his supporters as “street urchins” and “low-class Nigerians,” describing such comments as an insult to ordinary citizens.

Obi, in a statement via his official X handle on Wednesday, said it was “deeply unfortunate” that some privileged Nigerians have resorted to class-based insults against citizens who share his vision for a better country.

He maintained that his brand of politics is built on humanity, empathy, and inclusion rather than elitism or class segregation.

“I have never and will never look down on anyone, except to lift them up. We can only rise by lifting others,” Obi said.

According to him, his political involvement has always been about standing with ordinary Nigerians “whose voices have been silenced and whose resources have been stolen by the same ‘big names’ who now parade themselves with titles.”

The former Anambra governor described as “morally wrong” any attempt to demean struggling Nigerians already burdened by poverty and economic hardship.

“No Nigerian is of no value. No Nigerian is a street urchin. 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,” he said.

Reaffirming his commitment to inclusive governance and social justice, Obi said leadership should be measured by compassion, not mockery.

“Every Nigerian deserves dignity, opportunity, and care. True leadership is not about mocking the weak; it is about lifting them up,” he stated.