Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, clarified on Sunday that his recent remarks about converting “church vigils into night shifts” have been misrepresented. Speaking on the Honest Bunch podcast, Obi suggested that Nigeria’s poverty and productivity issues are partly due to an excessive focus on religious activities over productive work, noting that church services are often held from Monday to Friday. His comments sparked debate, with some Nigerians viewing it as criticism of religious practices.

In response to the backlash, Obi’s media aide, Ibrahim Umar, issued a statement explaining that Obi’s comments were misconstrued. The statement emphasized that Obi, known for his strong faith, respects all religions and was merely advocating for a balance between work and worship. Citing Apostle James’ teaching that “faith without works is unhelpful,” the statement explained that Obi’s intent was to underscore the importance of worshiping God through work, as seen in how Jesus chose his disciples—individuals who were actively working.

Obi’s remarks also aimed to highlight the need for productivity alongside prayer, rather than replacing one with the other.