Yahoo Boys are geniuses who need redirection, not condemnation – Peter Obi

Peter Obi, the former presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), has said that many internet fraudsters, commonly known as “Yahoo boys,” possess remarkable ingenuity that could be channeled toward national growth 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 these remarks while speaking at the Golden Health conference held at the Archbishop Patterson Auditorium, All Saints’ Cathedral, Onitsha.

The conference, themed “Money Beyond Wealth,” sought to promote ethical values, integrity, and moral leadership among young Nigerians.

Obi explained that he returned from a two-day meeting in the United Kingdom ahead of schedule in order to attend the program, noting that it tackled “a vice that has eroded our values — the greed for material possessions.”

He emphasized that Nigeria cannot achieve greatness as long as corruption is celebrated and dishonesty continues to be rewarded.

According to him, while money plays a role in human existence, it constitutes only a fraction of genuine wealth, which is built on “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 wrote on X.

Obi further stated that the unchecked obsession with wealth has weakened Nigeria’s moral fabric, adding that true progress cannot come from leadership devoid of honesty.

“Leadership must lead by example, for a nation that rewards dishonesty cannot build integrity,” he said.

He encouraged the youth to rediscover the dignity of labour and commit themselves to hard work, stressing that nations develop “not by miracles but by men and women who think, work, and build.”

The LP leader also highlighted the need for justice and fairness in governance, arguing that sustainable national development can only come from collective effort, not ethnic or religious sentiment.

“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 expressed gratitude to Owen Nwokolo, bishop of the Diocese on the Niger, for his mentorship, and applauded the conference organisers for their dedication to nurturing discipline and value-driven leadership among Nigerian youths.