Lagos APC Blasts Peter Obi for Calling Yahoo Boys ‘Geniuses’

The Labour Party’s (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, has come under heavy fire from the Lagos State branch of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for his recent remarks characterizing Internet scammers, also referred to as “Yahoo boys,” as “geniuses” who just need to be redirected.

The Lagos APC called Obi’s statement “morally reprehensible” and “unbecoming of someone who once sought to lead Nigeria” in a statement released on Sunday by party spokesperson, Seye Oladejo.

According to Oladejo, it is concerning and distressing that a former state governor and presidential contender could make remarks that seem to minimize criminal activity in a country that is already struggling with moral decline.

“Crime is not a brilliant thing. Yahoo-Yahoo is not a talent, but a social tragedy.
Obi’s moral character truly worries us; how can someone who consistently denounces corruption yet exalt cybercrime? Such inconsistencies show a perilous moral ambiguity that is inappropriate for a leader.

Additionally, the APC spokesperson called Obi’s stance a “reckless attempt at attention-seeking,” accusing him of using inflammatory remarks to gain political attention.

Reasoned leadership has been replaced with irresponsible statements due to his desperate need for attention. “Unchecked desperation ought to have a limit,” he continued.

Oladejo further claimed that Obi used “propaganda, misinformation, and emotional manipulation” to deceive a large number of young Nigerians during the 2023 elections. He warned that such speech could promote moral indiscipline and encouraged the LP candidate to apologize to the young people for his recent remarks.

The Lagos chapter insisted that leadership must be based on “values, integrity, and moral responsibility,” rejecting any attempt to romanticize or explain cybercrime while reaffirming the APC’s dedication to youth development and innovation.

Recall that on Saturday, Obi told attendees at a youth summit in Onitsha that many Internet scammers have intelligence and creativity that, with the right guidance, might be directed toward profitable endeavors.

He emphasized that “money is only a small fraction of true wealth” and advised young people to prioritize hard effort, character, and community development rather than the heedless pursuit of fortune.