The Peter Obi Media Reach (POMR) has issued a firm rebuttal against recent claims circulating in some media outlets, which allege that Peter Obi is calling for the dismantling of Nigeria’s church structure. These allegations have sparked discussions and controversy among the public, prompting POMR to release a clarifying statement.
In a detailed statement released to address the situation, POMR emphasized that these circulating speculations are entirely baseless and distort the actual message and intentions of their principal, Peter Obi. The organization explained that the misinterpretation of Mr. Obi's words stemmed from his recent media interview, where he discussed the importance of balancing faith and practical action in order to achieve meaningful outcomes.
It stated that the interpretation of Mr. Obi’s recent media interview, in which he expressed that faith and prayer alone, without active efforts and practical measures, cannot yield the desired results, was taken out of context. This statement was intended to emphasize the necessity of taking action alongside spiritual beliefs, rather than a criticism of faith itself.
POMR clarified that Mr. Obi’s intent was to underscore the importance of combining faith with constructive actions to create positive change, especially in Nigeria’s current societal and economic climate. They noted that the message had been misconstrued in some reports, which failed to capture the essence of his statement. The organization urged the public to consider Mr. Obi's remarks in full context, as these were not aimed at discrediting religious practices or church structures in Nigeria.
In a statement signed by the Spokesperson of the POMR, Ibrahim Umar, in Abuja on Sunday, the Media Office clarified that no part of Mr. Obi’s interview suggested or implied that he was advocating for the dismantling of worship centers. Mr. Umar expressed concern that some media outlets had twisted the interview to fit a narrative that was far removed from Mr. Obi’s actual intentions.
Ibrahim Umar said, “The attention of the Peter Obi Media Reach, POMR, has been drawn to a huge twist in his recent media interview, with some outlets erroneously suggesting that Mr. Obi called for the dismantling of churches in Nigeria.”
“By the misleading headline given to the interview, the core message of Mr. Obi’s statement has been greatly overturned and grossly distorted to serve a mischievous agenda. This portrayal does not align with Mr. Obi’s actual message.”
The spokesperson reiterated that the Labour Party leader, Mr. Obi, is widely respected for his strong faith and his respect and love for all religions. He noted that Mr. Obi, in the referenced interview, aimed to highlight how religion can be more effective in Nigerians’ lives when paired with constructive actions.
The spokesperson added that Obi’s statement aligns with the teachings of Apostle James, who in (James 2:14) noted that “faith without works is unhelpful” and in (James 2:24) emphasized, “You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.”
According to Mr. Umar, when Mr. Obi commented that he would “turn night vigil into production night,” he was merely emphasizing the significance of worshipping God through one’s work and productivity. He pointed out that even in the Bible, Jesus Christ did not call his disciples while they were praying but while they were actively working, as seen with fishermen and tax collectors.
The spokesperson cited Proverbs 14:23, which says, “All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty,” noting that this reinforces Mr. Obi’s stance on the importance of combining faith with effort. Mr. Umar added that Mr. Obi’s message was meant to address the trend in Nigeria where many exchange work for prayer, urging a balanced approach that includes both.
He further explained that there is no evidence in the scriptures where Jesus blessed an idle person; rather, there are several examples, such as the Parable of the Three Servants (Matthew 25:14-30), where the servant who delivered greater profit through hard work received a larger blessing. This, Mr. Umar said, supports Mr. Obi’s point that hard work is essential alongside spiritual dedication.
The spokesperson remarked, “The issue in some Nigerian worshipping communities is the failure to adhere to St. James’ advice (James 1:22), which encourages believers to be ‘doers of the word’ rather than passive listeners.”
“Therefore, Peter Obi’s media office wishes to make it absolutely clear that the slant being given to our principal’s interview by certain media houses distorts his message and should be disregarded. We urge the public to view his comments within the full context of the interview, rather than accepting the twisted interpretations presented by some sources.”
“As a man whose campaign mantra focuses on shifting Nigeria from consumption to production, and with a deep concern for Nigeria’s declining economy due to a lack of productivity, Mr. Obi’s message should resonate with Nigerians beyond the narrative of the mischief makers.”
“In his interview, Mr. Obi’s two main quotes, ‘It’s attractive, politics and church, but it has to be dismantled,’ and ‘We are going to turn night vigil into night shift so that people can be productive,’ are a call to action for Nigerians to rethink aspects of their worship culture to promote a balance of faith and productivity. Mr. Obi hopes this approach will enable Nigerians to serve God with both mind and body in a meaningful way.”