Peter Obi & Yahoo Boys: Genius or Menace? Let’s Talk Redirection
By: Abudu Olalekan
Peter Obi sparks debate by calling Yahoo Boys “geniuses.” Explore the truth behind Nigeria’s tech-savvy youth and how to redirect their talents positively.
Geniuses.
Yep. The Labour Party ex-governor stood in front of a crowd in Onitsha and dropped that bomb. “Some of our so-called Yahoo Boys are geniuses who need redirection, not condemnation.”
And boom—Nigerians lost it.
“Is genius now just a fancy word for fraud?” folks asked. “Does the dictionary agree?”
Well, let’s check. The Shorter Oxford Dictionary (2007) says genius is “natural ability or tendency… aptitude, talent, or inclination for something.” Simple.
So Obi’s not wrong. Not really.
Think about it: How does a 17-year-old con a 60-year-old out of an oil block? That ain’t luck. That’s skill. The kid’s got brains, courage, creativity. If you’re swindling old men with oil block dreams, you’re clever. Just… misguided.
We see these “geniuses” everywhere. In our homes. As nephews, cousins, even our own kids. That 15-year-old girl at my friend’s lunch? She’s one.
The Lunch That Told Me Everything
A few weeks back, I was at a friend’s house in Ido Ekiti. We were halfway through lunch—pounded yam, the good stuff—when his daughter walks in. Fifteen. With two friends.
My friend calls her back. His Android phone’s acting up. “Fix it, jor,” he says.
She rolls her eyes. “Daddy, I taught you this last month. You always forget.”
Oof. If an adult said that? You’d call them arrogant. But she’s a kid. Still… rude? My friend’s wife looked mortified. I just laughed.
She taps the phone. “Done,” she says, giggling.
“How?” he asks. “I locked the phone!”
“I know your password,” she shrugs. “And Mum’s. And Uncle Tunji’s.”
She dashes off. We stare at each other. Silence. Then we keep eating. But the tension? Thick.
Later, my friend’s wife hisses: “She’s so rude!”
I play devil’s advocate: “Or maybe she’s just smarter than you think. Stop paying her school fees if you’re mad.”
They laughed. I left. But that girl? She’s 16 now. Builds apps. Anything on a computer.
Restless. Brilliant. Impatient with “docility.” And yes—sometimes rude.
That’s our Yahoo Boys. In training.
When “Bad” Kids Become Good Hackers
You think Nigeria’s the only place with tech whiz kids gone rogue? Nah.
Check this. In 2018, Techworm wrote about five child hackers who could’ve been villains—but became heroes.
Reuben Paul (9 years old, USA): At a security conference, he hacked an Android phone in minutes. Stole contacts, messages—everything. Then he warned everyone: “If a kid can do it, hackers will.” Microsoft took notice. They fixed the flaw. And gave Reuben a $50 gift card, games, and Xbox Live. Now? He’s a recognized security researcher.
Betsy Davies (7, UK): Watched a 10-minute tutorial. Then hacked her dad’s Wi-Fi. “Man-in-the-Middle” attack. She stole data in 10 minutes 54 seconds. Her reward? Praise. Not prison.
Kristoffer Von Hassel (5, USA): Found a backdoor in Xbox. Microsoft added him to their official security researchers list. Gave him cash, games, and a Wikipedia page.
Unnamed Canadian (12): Hacked government websites during Quebec protests. Sold the data to Anonymous for video games. Pleaded guilty. But guess what? He’s now in cybersecurity.
CyFi (10, USA): Got bored playing farm games. Changed the time to speed up growth. Found a zero-day flaw. Presented it at DefCon. Experts confirmed it. She’s now a state-ranked skier, artist, and hacker.
See the pattern? These kids had skills. Society redirected them.
Nigeria’s Yahoo Boys: Failed Parentage or Failed System?
We’ve got our own Reuben Pauls. Driving flashy cars at 19. Living in mansions. How? Yahoo.
A university lecturer friend told me: “Students park exotic cars on campus. So many, we had to ban cars entirely. Did it stop them? Nope. They just park off-campus now.”
Who are these kids? Where’s the money really coming from?
February 2022, I wrote: “The Yahoo in us all.” I argued Nigeria’s moral decay didn’t just happen. It’s been building. From leaders who forge certificates to politicians who steal—we created this mess.
Parents? Often absent. Peer pressure? Strong. Family values? Eroded.
A community full of certificate forgers, drug dealers, and corrupt politicians can’t lecture Yahoo Boys about ethics.
Obi’s Point: Redirect, Don’t Condemn
Peter Obi’s not saying “Yahoo Boys are good.” He’s saying: “They’re smart. Use that.”
Like Microsoft did with Kristoffer. Like the UK did with Betsy.
Obi’s message: “Study them. Understand their tricks. Then redirect that energy.”
Critics like Seye Oladejo (APC Lagos spokesperson) called Obi’s words “morally reprehensible.” Really? While APC leaders are busy stealing public funds? Hypocrites.
If Obi’s the one talking solutions, while APC’s busy scamming the system? Tell me who’s the real problem.
The Choice Is Ours
We have two paths:
- Condemn. Call them “Yahoo Boys.” Lock them up. Shame them.
Result? More crime. More bitterness. - Redirect. Like Obi says. Like Microsoft did. Invest in cybersecurity training. Tech hubs. Mentorship.
Result? Nigeria’s next Reuben Paul. Or CyFi.
That 15-year-old girl at my friend’s house? She could build the next big app. Or she could… well, you know.
Our choice.
What will we do with our geniuses?
