Obi reverses stance on night vigils amid backlash

The candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 presidential election, Mr. Peter Obi, has on November 3, 2024, said his previous recommendation to transform ‘church vigils into night shifts’ have been misunderstood.

According to reports available online, the former LP presidential candidate faced backlash after an interview on the Honest Bunch podcast.

During the podcast, he argued that Nigerians’ focus on religion, alongside politics, hinders productivity.

Obi emphasized that faith without action is unhelpful, referencing Apostle James.

He encouraged Nigerians to balance worship with work, stressing that Jesus chose fishermen and tax collectors as disciples, not idle individuals.

His media team released a statement clarifying that Obi’s message was distorted, and that he respects all religions, aiming to highlight the importance of worshiping through work, not replacing prayer with productivity entirely.

The controversy sparked mixed reactions, with some seeing it as an attack on religious traditions.

Obi stressed that Nigeria’s struggles with poverty and unproductivity stem majorly from politics and religion.

He pointed out that an excessive amount of time is spent attending church services from Monday to Friday.

He highlighted the need for a better balance between faith and productivity.

The statement sparked a stream of controversies, with some interpreting it as a criticism of religious practices.

Obi’s supporters, on the hand, argued that he merely aimed to encourage Nigerians to channel their energy into economic development and self-sufficiency.

Anambra under Peter Obi

His vision for Nigeria’s growth is rooted in his past experiences while he was the governor of Anambra State.

As governor, he implemented various projects and initiatives to boost education, healthcare and economic sectors.

During his tenure, the state became the first in Nigeria to start Sub-Sovereign Wealth savings and was rated the least indebted state in the country.

His administration also focused on attracting foreign investments, improving infrastructure, and empowering youth through job creation programs.

A call to action

Some individuals, meanwhile, have seen his message as a call to action.

They encouraged Nigerians to strike a balance between religious practices and the country’s economic development.

Peter Obi, clarified through his media aide, Ibrahim Umar, that his original message had been misinterpreted and overstated, sparking unwarranted controversy.

Umar addressed the controversy surrounding his recent interview, clarifying that his words were misrepresented.

Contrary to headlines suggesting he advocated for the dismantling of churches in Nigeria, Obi’s message emphasized balancing faith with productivity.

The headline of Peter Obi’s interview completely twisted the true meaning of his message, misrepresenting it to fit a malicious agenda.

In essence, his original message has been hijacked and distorted beyond recognition the writer further stated.

The Labour Party leader, Peter Obi, is renowned for his strong faith and profound respect for all religions the writer explained.

In a recent interview, he emphasized the importance of harnessing the power of faith to positively impact the lives of Nigerians.

By highlighting the potential benefits of religion, Obi aimed to inspire a more harmonious and productive society.

“During the interview, Obi emphasized the value of faith paired with action, echoing Apostle James’ message that ‘faith without works is unhelpful.

Obi suggested transforming night vigils into productive sessions, highlighting the importance of worshiping God through meaningful work, rather than just prayer alone.”

He further stressed out that even Jesus chose his 12 disciples from their workplaces, not while they were praying. He found them in the midst of their daily lives, working as fishermen, tax collectors, and possibly other trades.

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