Peter Obi calls Nigerian Muslims beggars, says begging is part of Islamic culture (Video)

Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 presidential election, Peter Obi, sparked fresh controversy as he labelled Nigerian Muslims beggars and claimed begging is part of Islamic culture.

In a now-viral video, the former Anambra governor, speaking at an event, shared an experience from one of his visits to Indonesia.

Obi said that during the visit, he asked some Muslims there—along with the Indonesian president—why no almajiri or people were begging on the streets, as is often seen in Nigeria.

“In Indonesia, I met everyone, from ministers to the vice president and even the president. Indonesia has the largest Muslim population in the world. When we were there, I turned to the two Muslims with me, and I asked the leaders: ‘Do you have Almajiri children here?’ They said, ‘No.’

“So I asked the president, ‘Why don’t you have children begging on the streets? Isn’t it part of Muslim culture?’

According to him, the president replied: “Why would they be begging? They are educated. Educate your people and they become productive.”

He also recalled visiting the Sultan’s residence, where he noticed a large statue of Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary. Surprised, he asked why such Christian symbols were displayed in the home of a Muslim leader. The response he got was simple: “It was a gift, and it is a good statue.”

Obi then asked a pointed question: “So why is our own situation in Nigeria so different?”

This Peter Obi just opens his mouth waaaaaaa without thinking and talk. pic.twitter.com/1rMHNPUAvu

— Amb. Pst Okezie Atañi (@Onsogbu) December 10, 2025

This is not the first time Peter Obi has made controversial remarks about Muslims, prompting critics to label him a religious bigot. In 2023, the Peoples Gazette published a groundbreaking report revealing a private telephone conversation between Obi and Bishop David Oyedepo, founder of Winners’ Chapel.

The audio, which reportedly took place shortly before the February 25 presidential election, captured Obi asking Oyedepo to help mobilise Christian voters, particularly in the north-central states of Kwara, Kogi, and Niger. In the conversation, he described the election as a “religious war.”

Although Obi has claimed that the audio was manipulated, he can be heard repeatedly saying “yes daddy” throughout the call. At one point, he urged: “Daddy, I need you to speak to your people in the south-west and Kwara, the Christians in the south-west and Kwara. This is a religious war. Like I keep saying: if this works, you people will never regret the support.”