Former Anambra state governor, Peter Obi has said that despite the Xenophobic attacks, many Nigerians residing in South Africa say they would rather remain there than return home because of the worsening economic situation in Nigeria

Obi stated this while speaking at a dinner organised for National Democratic Coalition (NDC) aspirants in Abuja, shortly after returning from South Africa.

Tam on Tuesday, the former Labour Party presidential candidate said efforts were made to support distressed Nigerians willing to return home, but many declined the offer.

“I just came back last night from South Africa. You know what Nigerians are going through in South Africa and so many other African countries'' Obi said

He explained that several Nigerians told him they preferred enduring hardship abroad because conditions in Nigeria had become more difficult.

“If you don’t know, we provided facilities for them to come back. But most of them told me they would rather die there than come back. They said things are even worse at home” he stated