Former Anambra State governor and National Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has asked Nigerians to pray for the country’s political leaders, admitting that politicians and poor leadership are largely responsible for Nigeria’s challenges.
Obi made the remarks on Sunday during a visit to Koinonia Global, a ministry led by Apostle Joshua Selman.
Rather than blaming Nigeria’s problems on the country itself, the former governor argued that the nation had sufficient resources to provide a better standard of living if its wealth was properly managed.
“I believe that people like you are the ones keeping our country,” Obi told members of the congregation, before asking them to include politicians in their prayers.
According to him, the country’s difficulties are rooted primarily in the actions and decisions of those entrusted with public office.
“We are the problem of the country. There’s nothing wrong with Nigeria. What is wrong in Nigeria is the leadership, the politicians God created in this country,” he said.
Obi appealed to Nigerians to pray that political leaders would develop the conscience to manage public resources in the interest of citizens rather than for personal gain.
“Let God touch our hearts to use public money for public good. Let God touch us to stop stealing. That is why people are suffering here,” he said.
The former governor maintained that Nigeria’s natural and economic resources could significantly improve the lives of citizens if they were invested productively.
“If we use the wealth of this nation and invest it, it will go a long way,” he added.
Obi said his experiences travelling to different countries had reinforced his belief that leadership plays a decisive role in determining whether nations develop or stagnate.
“I’ve been to so many countries of the world. And I’ve seen things work in other nations. It is leadership,” he said.
His comments also extended beyond criticism of individual politicians, as he urged Nigerians not to turn prayers for the country’s leaders into a partisan exercise.
He called on the congregation to pray for all political leaders, regardless of party affiliation or political alignment.
“Don’t say one is good, the other one is bad. All of us, remember all of us in your prayers,” Obi said.
He expressed confidence that Nigeria’s problems could be overcome if the country’s resources were properly managed and its leadership improved.
“Because the problem of the country can be solved. I assure you of that,” he told the congregation.
The remarks come as political parties and aspirants increasingly position themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections, with leadership, accountability and economic management expected to remain central issues in the political debate.
