The Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has responded to recent criticism over his comments suggesting that church vigils could be “converted into night shifts.” Obi clarified that his message has been misinterpreted and taken out of context.
The backlash began after Obi’s appearance on the *Honest Bunch* podcast on Saturday, where he argued that Nigeria’s poverty and low productivity were partly due to overemphasis on religion and politics. During the interview, Obi suggested that extensive church attendance throughout the week might be impacting productivity, sparking mixed reactions from the public, with some viewing his remarks as an infringement on religious traditions.
Through a statement issued by his media aide, Ibrahim Umar, Obi emphasized that his comments were meant to highlight the value of balancing faith with action, not to undermine religious practices. The statement read, “Our attention has been drawn to a huge twist in his recent media interview, saying erroneously that he called for the dismantling of churches in Nigeria.” Obi’s team argued that his comments were misrepresented by headlines that misled the public and distorted his message.
Obi’s statement clarified that his reference to “turning night vigils into production nights” was an attempt to convey the importance of blending faith with productive work. “What we are doing in Nigeria, which Obi’s interview is highlighting as wrong and should be discontinued, is exchanging work for prayer when the two should go together,” the statement added.
Obi further emphasized that his views were grounded in scriptural teachings, quoting the Apostle James, who advocated that “faith without works is unhelpful.” He pointed out that even Jesus selected his disciples while they were engaged in work rather than prayer.
Obi’s clarification underscores his respect for all religions while promoting a work ethic that integrates both faith and productivity, aiming to inspire Nigerians to balance worship with constructive contributions to society.
