Peter Obi has called on Nigerians to pray for politicians to stop stealing, while arguing that the country’s major problems are rooted in the conduct of those in political leadership.

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) made the remarks while addressing worshippers at Koinonia Global and Eternity Network International.

Quick Takeaways

• Peter Obi asked Nigerians to pray for politicians to stop stealing.
• He argued that politicians are responsible for many of the problems confronting Nigeria.
• Obi said there is nothing fundamentally wrong with the country, but criticised those in positions of political authority.
• He urged politicians to stop embezzling public funds.
• He also pointed to the progress of other countries and said Nigeria could improve if its leaders did the right thing.

The People Involved

Obi delivered the remarks during a Sunday worship session at Koinonia Global and Eternity Network International.

Apostle Joshua Selman, the leader of the church, had invited Obi to speak during the service.

The appearance provided Obi with an opportunity to address the congregation on issues relating to Nigeria’s political leadership and development.

What Happened?

Obi told the congregation that Nigerians were gathered for different reasons but that one of the things they should pray about was the conduct of politicians.

He specifically appealed to Nigerians to pray for politicians to stop stealing.

“Pray for us politicians to stop stealing.”

The former presidential candidate went on to argue that politicians themselves are responsible for the country’s difficulties.

According to Obi, Nigeria’s problems should not simply be attributed to the country itself, but to those entrusted with political leadership.

He said:

“Politicians are the problem of the country. There is nothing wrong with the country, but the politicians are the issue.”

Obi also urged Nigerians not to divide politicians into those they consider good and those they consider bad, arguing instead that politicians collectively have a responsibility to change their conduct.

He called for prayers that God would touch politicians and persuade them to stop stealing public resources.

Obi’s Main Message

The central point of Obi’s remarks was that Nigeria’s development depends significantly on the conduct of its political leaders.

Rather than portraying the country’s challenges as an unavoidable consequence of Nigeria itself, he placed responsibility on politicians and their handling of public resources.

Obi urged political leaders to refrain from embezzling public funds, arguing that doing the right thing would help improve the country.

“If we do the right thing, things will improve,” he said.

The Church Appearance

Obi said he was taken aback by the recognition he received when he appeared before the congregation.

He acknowledged that people had gathered for different reasons before turning his remarks towards the need for prayers for politicians.

The service was broadcast live on YouTube, according to the report.

The setting was religious, but Obi’s remarks centred largely on political leadership, public accountability and Nigeria’s development.

Nigeria And Other Countries

Obi also reflected on the progress made by other countries that, according to him, began their development journeys alongside Nigeria but have since advanced further.

He encouraged Nigerians to read the book Growing Apart, using the comparison to emphasise his view that better governance and responsible management of public resources could produce different outcomes.

Obi said he had personally seen systems work in other countries and maintained that Nigerians could also experience improvement if public officials acted responsibly.

A Governance Perspective

Obi’s comments place political leadership and the management of public funds at the centre of his explanation for Nigeria’s difficulties.

His argument is that the country’s resources and potential are not necessarily the fundamental problem. Instead, he believes the conduct of those managing public affairs is a major factor in determining how effectively those resources translate into development.

The remarks therefore frame corruption and public accountability as governance issues rather than simply individual acts of wrongdoing.

However, the supplied report presents these points as Obi’s assessment. It does not provide independent evidence establishing his broader claim that politicians are solely responsible for Nigeria’s problems.

Political Implications

Obi’s remarks add another political dimension to the continuing discussion about corruption, leadership and accountability in Nigeria.

By asking Nigerians to pray for politicians collectively, he directed attention towards the behaviour of political leaders rather than singling out one individual or party.

His comments also suggest that the quality of political leadership remains closely connected to his broader argument about Nigeria’s development.

For voters, the message places responsibility on political office holders to demonstrate greater accountability in the management of public resources.

Political Significance

Obi’s appeal ultimately centres on a simple argument: Nigeria’s progress depends not only on the country’s resources and potential, but also on how those entrusted with public responsibility use them.

His call for Nigerians to pray for politicians to stop stealing was therefore part of a broader criticism of political leadership and public fund management.

Obi concluded that if politicians and other public officials do the right thing and refrain from embezzling public funds, Nigeria can improve.