Peter Obi slammed over remark on dismantling churches in Nigeria

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, has been criticized for his comments about dismantling politics and the church in Nigeria.

NaijaOnPoint.com.ng(NOP) reports that the former Governor of Anambra State, during a recent appearance at Honest Bunch Podcast with media personality Nedu, emphasized the need to dismantle politics and the church, which he noted is an attractive venture in the country.

The former presidential candidate also suggested that Nigeria might see more economic progress by reducing the frequency of church vigils, advocating instead for night shifts focused on productivity.

He implied that extensive late-night church gatherings could contribute to poverty in the country, encouraging a shift towards productive work during nighttime hours.

Obi said, “It’s attractive, politics and church but it has to be dismantled.

“We are going to turn night vigil into night shift so that people can be productive.

“I go to church and believe in God but we can’t have it that people Monday to Friday, be in church morning and night.

“If I go from here to my house, the only sign boards you see are those of churches.

“If you go to the East, it’s burials and that’s not a country.”

Obi’s remarks sparked a widespread debate online, with many questioning his stance on religious gatherings and their impact on Nigeria’s productivity.

Reacting, Joshua Bamiloye, son of prominent Nigerian evangelists Mike and Gloria Bamiloye, took to social media platform X to address what he described as a misrepresentation of the nation’s underlying issues.

“So now vigils are the reason Nigeria isn’t productive? The mentality of blaming church attendance for Nigeria’s problems is very misguided and, at best, an insult,” Bamiloye wrote.

He further argued that other social events, including recreational gatherings, comedy shows, and concerts, should also be curtailed if productivity was the primary concern.

“Vigils are commonly held on Fridays, right before the weekend. If we want to be productive, why not also ban recreational events, comedy shows, and concerts—in fact, ban every social gathering?” he added.