Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, has clarified his recent comments suggesting the conversion of “church vigils into night shifts,” stating that his remarks were misinterpreted.
The former Anambra State governor faced backlash following his appearance on the Honest Bunch podcast, where he highlighted that excessive time spent in church services from Monday to Friday could contribute to Nigeria’s unproductiveness, attributing the country’s poverty to issues with politics and religion.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that Obi’s stance ignited mixed reactions, with many critics interpreting his words as an attack on religious traditions.
Responding to the criticism in a statement issued by his media aide, Ibrahim Umar, Obi expressed disappointment over the “misrepresentation” of his comments, noting that they had been twisted to serve “a mischievous end.”
The statement read, “Our attention has been drawn to a huge twist in his recent media interview, falsely suggesting he called for the dismantling of churches in Nigeria. By the headline given to the interview, the message of Obi’s words has been greatly overturned and grossly distorted.”
Obi, known for his strong faith and respect for all religions, reportedly intended to convey that faith should complement productive work, citing Apostle James’ statement, “Faith without works is unhelpful.” The statement further explained that Obi’s reference to turning night vigils into productive activities was meant to emphasize worshipping God through diligent work.
It added, “Even Jesus never selected his disciples from places of prayer alone but found them engaged in their professions, as fishermen and tax collectors. In Nigeria, we have an issue where work is often replaced with prayer when the two should go hand-in-hand.”
The statement concluded by calling for a balanced approach, in which Nigerians follow the guidance of Apostle James to be “doers of the word,” embracing both faith and work.
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