Peter Obi decries paid social media trolls

Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, has raised alarm over what he termed the growing culture of transactional politics in Nigeria, lamenting that some young Nigerians are being paid to attack reform advocates on social media.

Speaking during an engagement at Johns Hopkins University in Washington, D.C., Obi expressed concern that political actors are exploiting the country’s youth by offering them money to suppress voices calling for accountability and good governance.

In a now-viral video shared on X (formerly Twitter), Obi revealed that these individuals are allegedly paid as little as N20,000 to N40,000 monthly to harass those pushing for reforms.

“In the transactional politics of Nigeria, some people pay them to cause confusion. Go to social media—those being paid N20,000, N40,000 monthly to abuse you are the same youths you’re fighting for,” Obi said.

He described the development as deeply troubling and ironic, noting that the same young people whose future is being jeopardised by failed leadership are being used to defend the status quo.

Obi, who turned 62 last year, said it was disheartening to witness young Nigerians become tools in the hands of corrupt politicians, especially when they should be at the forefront of national transformation.

“The politics of manipulation is destroying our country,” he warned. “We must empower our young people with knowledge, not pay them to troll those advocating for a better Nigeria.”

Obi called on the youth to reject tokenism and resist being drawn into the politics of abuse and misinformation. Instead, he urged them to embrace a new political culture anchored on civic consciousness, integrity, and a genuine commitment to national progress.