Amidst backlash, Peter Obi claims church vigil comment twisted

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has found himself at the center of a heated debate following his suggestion for the conversion of church vigils into night shifts for productivity.

The former Anambra State governor’s comments on the Honest Bunch podcast sparked outrage, with many Nigerians condemning it as an infringement on religious traditions.

Obi argued that Nigeria’s poverty and unproductivity stem from an overemphasis on politics and religion.

He stresed that too much time is spent attending church services from Monday to Friday, hindering the nation’s progress.

However, his message was quickly misconstrued, leading to widespread criticism.

In a statement issued on Sunday by his media aide, Ibrahim Umar, the LP clarified that his words were “twisted and blown out of proportion.”

The statement read: “The Labour Party leader is well known as a man of strong faith who has enormous respect and love for every religion… Obi was merely underscoring what Apostle James said in ‘Faith without Works is unhelpful’.”

READ ALSO: Peter Obi calls for investigation into claims of prayer-induced credit alerts

Obi’s supporters rallied behind him, with some taking to social media to express their agreement. One user tweeted: “The religious aspect is actually true. We need fewer people active in churches and more engaged in being productive.”

Another user added: “The only things working are politics and religion; that is why pastors and politicians are so wealthy.”

However, critics, including Joshua Mike-Bamiloye, son of Mike Bamiloye, founder of Mount Zion Faith Drama Ministry, labeled Obi’s comments as “misguided” and “insulting.”

Mike-Bamiloye questioned the practicality of Obi’s suggestion, asking, “If we want to be productive, why not also ban recreational events, comedy shows, and concerts?”

The controversy surrounding Obi’s comments highlights the complex relationship between religion and productivity in Nigeria. While some see religion as a vital part of Nigerian culture, others believe it hinders economic progress.

As the debate rages on, Obi’s clarification seeks to refocus attention on his original message: the importance of balancing faith with productive work.

As his statement emphasized, “There is no evidence in the scripture that Jesus blessed an idle person… We should be doers of the words.”

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