The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has criticised Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, for describing Internet fraudsters, popularly known as “Yahoo boys,” as “geniuses” who only need redirection.
Gatekeepers News reports that in a statement issued on Sunday, APC spokesperson Seye Oladejo described Obi’s remarks as “morally reprehensible,” warning that such comments trivialise criminal behaviour in a country battling to restore moral values.
“There’s nothing genius about crime. Yahoo-Yahoo is a social tragedy, not a talent,” Oladejo said. “We are genuinely worried about Obi’s state of mind—one that glorifies fraudulent practices while condemning corruption and dishonesty in the same breath. Such contradiction exposes a profound moral confusion that has no place in leadership.”
Oladejo further accused the former Anambra State governor of “desperation for political relevance,” describing his comment as a reckless attempt to court attention.
“His desperation for attention has replaced reasoned leadership with reckless speech. There should be a limit to unbridled desperation,” he added.
The party also said Obi owed Nigerian youths an apology for “misleading them during the 2023 elections through propaganda, misinformation, and emotional manipulation,” urging him to refrain from making statements that could undermine moral discipline among young people.
While reaffirming its support for youth empowerment and innovation, the Lagos APC rejected any attempt to romanticise or excuse cybercrime, insisting that “leadership must be grounded in values and integrity, not populism or social media appeal.”
Obi had, during a youth conference in Onitsha on Saturday titled “Money Beyond Wealth,” said that some Internet fraudsters possessed creativity and intelligence that could be redirected towards productive ventures if properly guided. He also warned that the reckless pursuit of money could destroy character and community, noting that “money is just a fraction of true wealth.”
