Labour Party 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has called for the dismantling of politics and church in Nigeria.
The former Anambra governor addressed the intertwined influence of politics and religious activities in Nigeria, suggesting a need for change.
Speaking on the Honest Bunch Podcast with Nedu, Obi shared his views on how the heavy focus on church activities and political affairs affects national productivity.
Obi pointed out that the prevalence of church gatherings and political engagements throughout the week is limiting the productive potential of many Nigerians.
He proposed a restructuring, suggesting that night vigils, common in Nigerian church practices, could be shifted to night shifts or work-oriented routines, thereby encouraging productivity and economic progress.
Obi also commented on the visual landscape, noting that church billboards dominate public spaces, especially in the southeastern regions where the focus on religious and burial ceremonies often overshadows other societal developments.
He 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.”
