Peter Obi, the Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, clarified comments he made regarding church vigils, which he says were misinterpreted. In a recent interview on the Honest Bunch podcast, Obi suggested redirecting some church time to productivity, arguing that the country’s poverty and unproductivity are partly due to excessive focus on religious activities over work. His remarks received mixed responses, with some critics viewing them as an attack on religious practices.
In a statement from his media aide, Ibrahim Umar, Obi emphasized that his comments were distorted. The statement clarified that Obi respects religion deeply and merely highlighted the biblical teaching that “faith without works is unhelpful.” According to Obi, he was underscoring the importance of balancing faith with productivity.
“Jesus Christ never picked any of his disciples from where they were praying but from where they were working,” Obi noted, adding that religious devotion should not replace work but complement it. He argued that Nigeria’s worship communities should encourage a balance of faith and action to better impact the nation’s growth.
