Why Many Christians Are Now Against PETER OBI

Peter Obi, the Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, is not having the best of times right now. A couple of weeks ago, he was under fire from former President Goodluck Jonathan’s spokesman, Doyin Okupe, for calling out Ogun people, asking if they are now buying bread cheaper having voted for President Bola Tinubu in the last 2023 presidential election. Doyin Okupe, who himself voted for and worked for Peter Obi at the last presidential election, questioned Obi’s reason for singling out Ogun State people while trying to mock Nigerians who voted for Bola Tinubu owing to the prevailing economic hardship being experienced by Nigerians.

It was not only Doyin Okupe that was displeased with Peter Obi over his statement, which many considered illogical and smirking of bigotry, many other Yorubas who voted for him at the last election have all been very angry with him and a lot of them have gone online to express their disappointment.

And just when this appeared to be fading away, Peter Obi appears to be embroiled in another fresh controversy. While answering questions during a live programme on Instagram called the Honest Bunch podcast,  had spoken ‘lowly of Christians,’ to be use the exact words of some concerned and angry Christians. And for this reason, Peter Obi has incurred the wrath of many Christians and has been told to avoid attending the 2026 Shiloh, barely three months before the 2027 presidential election. Shiloh is the annual appointment with God ordained for the church’s dominion and the individual members of the Winners’ family at the Living Faith Church International, also known as Winners’ Chapel.

Obi had said at the podcast;  “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.”

A Christian-focused media platform, The Real Church Gist, made the statement in a tweet on Tuesday, reacting to Peter Obi’s position on turning night vigils in churches to the night shift and condemning the proliferation of churches in Nigeria.

Obi had emphasized that Nigeria’s poverty and unproductivity stem from politics and religion, sparking controversy when he suggested that church vigils should be converted into night shifts. Obi argued that too much time is spent attending church services from Monday to Friday, which many saw as an infringement on religious traditions.

However, Obi later clarified that his position on church vigils was misrepresented. He maintained that he intended to highlight the need for productivity and economic growth, not disparaging religious practices.

But The Real Church Gist said the Labour Party chieftain would be reminded of his position on the status of churches when the election in 2027 approaches.

The tweet reads in part: “You got your highest votes where these churches are prospering and, in fact, some of them in the most economically buoyant states in Nigeria. You know the areas in Nigeria where the economy is at its worst. You know, those who are complaining about the ongoing Tax Bill.

“Those who pray very, very regularly. Those whose roads can’t be used on week days due to prayers, those who refused to vote for you. You had nothing to say about them. It is the Church you saw.”

See the tweet here:

therealchurchgis

Follow: DON’T COME TO SHILOH OR CONGRESS IN 2026 NIGHT VIGIL HAS HELD FROM THE DAYS OF APOSTLE BABALOLA BEFORE INDEPENDENCE UP TILL NOW SO WHAT YEAR DID CHURCH VIGILS START STOPPING DEVELOPMENT THE VISION FOR CHURCH GIST WAS RECEIVED IN A NIGHT VIGIL NO CHURCH HOLDS NIGHT VIGIL… Show more

A lot of Christians and also clerics have lambasted Peter Obi over this statement many have described as reckless and unpresidential for a man that intends to become the President Of Nigeria someday. Pastors, particularly those of the new generation pastors, have all expressed their disappointment over the statement credited to Peter Obi. The latest young notable Christian to express his displeasure is is top gospel singer, Joshu Bamiloye, Evangelist Mike Bamiloye’s son. He explains that the mentality of blaming church attendance for Nigeria’s problems is misguided.

In a sharp response to Peter Obi’s statement, Joshua Mike-Bamiloye, who has made a name for himself as a gospel artist and filmmaker, expressed his disapproval of Obi’s comments, calling them misguided and even insulting. He argued that blaming church attendance for Nigeria’s productivity issues fails to address the real underlying problems. “Vigils are commonly held on Fridays, right before the weekend. If we want to be productive, why not also ban recreational events, comedy shows, concerts—in fact, ban every social gathering,” he countered in a tweet.

Joshua went on to suggest that Nigeria’s productivity challenges are not caused by church gatherings but rather by deeper, unresolved issues. He ended his response on a humorous note, attributing such ideas to Nigeria’s hot weather, which he joked might be impairing some people’s thinking.

In a sharp response, Joshua Mike-Bamiloye, who has made a name for himself as a gospel artist and filmmaker, expressed his disapproval of Obi’s comments, calling them misguided and even insulting. He argued that blaming church attendance for Nigeria’s productivity issues fails to address the real underlying problems. “Vigils are commonly held on Fridays, right before the weekend. If we want to be productive, why not also ban recreational events, comedy shows, concerts—in fact, ban every social gathering,” he countered in a tweet.

Joshua went on to suggest that Nigeria’s productivity challenges are not caused by church gatherings but rather by deeper, unresolved issues. He ended his response on a humorous note, attributing such ideas to Nigeria’s hot weather, which he joked might be impairing some people’s thinking.

Many members of the Winners Chapel who attended the last Shiloh programme which Peter Obi attended will remember the rousing ovation Obi got when he was introduced by Bishop Oyedepo, an experience Obi would love relive again. In addition Bishop Oyedepo spoke glowingly of Obi’s qualities and potentials without outrightly mentioning his name.

Hear Oyedepo: “What Nigeria needs now is not a leader but a deliverer. What event will bring 50 nations together? The only thing of value to the county today is the church. The country is battered. Security is zero.” He led the congregation to pray to God to send Nigeria a deliverer as the 2023 general election approaches.

The prayers centre on the following: “Lord, send us a deliverer. Lord, give us a deliverer. Send us a deliverer and give us rest in Nigeria again.” “I am not a beneficiary of government. I have been called to service long before many of them started their politics,” he said.

He warned that the destiny of the country was at stake as “money distributors are busy distributing. Christians all over the world if you love Nigeria pray. “I couldn’t watch a human being being set on fire. But I warned you in 2015. We are long overdue for rest. God sent a deliverer in Israel and they had rest for 8o years. This land (Nigeria) must have rest. “Nigeria must have rest. We must be able to travel to Kano again freely. We must be able to travel to Maiduguri and have rest.

I have been quiet. We have the Holy Ghost Congress where multitudes are gathered about now. it is only the church that is giving a face of honour to Nigeria today. The church is at peace and Nigeria is in crisis.“You will not be a refugee in another country. There shall be no war. There shall be no bloodshed in Nigeria. Nigeria shall prosper again.”

Oyedepo proclaimed that “the shame of Nigeria will be rolled away. The perpetrators will pay for it. You can’t kill other people’s children and yours will be alive. God will work his wonders in Nigeria. Every nation of Africa will have rest again. Every sponsors of unrest in Nigeria it shall not be well with you.”

Without mentioning Obi’s name, he said: “We welcome all of them (Presidential candidates). But God will give us His choice and His choice will give us rest.”