At the 2022 Men of Valor Conference organized by Revival House of Glory Church (RHOGIC) at Wuye-Abuja, last Sunday, Peter Obi was invited as one of three speakers. 

The conference theme was ‘Navigating the Corridors of Power: The Church and Politics.’ During the panel discussion, the moderator posed this question to Peter Obi: “In terms of reaching the youth and reaching people, what are your thoughts about how the church can mobilize young people?”

Here’s Obi’s reply: “It’s a very simple thing. That’s what we are doing here. The church has to know that we’ve passed the time of praying. It’s not going to be solved by praying alone. It has to be solved by action. If you like, pray for the rest of your life. With this people? They will never go away. You must chase them away. They are not people you’ll remove by prayer. It is time to act; not to pray.”

He goes on to make a remark about the fact that the insecurity we see crippling Nigeria today has been caused by us. “The people we refused to educate yesterday are the ones chasing us out of our houses today.” 

Then he returns to the theme of Christian-inspired political action. This is what he said: “Do you know how Marcos left office in the Philippines? Marcos left office because on a Sunday, Cardinal Sin finished church service. Instead of saying ‘The Mass is ended let us go,’ he told everybody, ‘Follow me and block the presidential lodge.’ After three days President Marcos and his wife left. It is time for us to close the church and deal with this people.”

For many years I have been interested in the question about how the church can positively impact politics and social development in Nigeria in an enduring way. Last Sunday at a zoom discussion with a couple of other priests, I made the point about how religion in Nigeria is diminishing personal and corporate social agency because we have resorted to using religion, in Eddie Iroh’s words, like a drunkard who uses a lamp post not for illumination but for support.

Here’s just one example: How do Nigerian Christians end their commentary on the frustrations they are enduring? “God will help us.” “May God save us.” And yet we know that God will not come down from heaven and do for us what he has given us the wisdom and intelligence to do for ourselves. We can pray, fast, do crusades, hold vigils and revivals, go up to the mountain or come down to the valley, if we do not make the connection between faith and political action, we have not started.

We need to wake up from the slumber of a distorted religious outlook that substitutes prayer for hard work. Prayer has its place; but prayer without action, faith without work, is dead on arrival. This is the time to dust our books on Catholic social teaching and put the “church’s best kept secret” to good use for the common good of Nigeria and all Nigerians. This is for me the surest pathway  to national rebirth.

Jaime Cardinal Lachica Sin tried it in the Philippines and it worked. Stefan Cardinal Wyszynski, John Paul II’s mentor, tried it in Poland and it worked. Cardinal Francois Xavier Nguyen van Thuan spinned it in Vietnam and lacerated communism’s backbone. Each of these 20th century churchmen paid a huge cost for bearing prophetic witness and mobilizing their people for change in their countries, but ultimately, they and their people won.

Like Peter Obi has said, “It is time for us to close the church and deal with this people.” What happens after “Go, the Mass is ended” must now be a clearly defined program for political and social revolution!

https://www.regencyreporters.com.ng/2022/06/It-Is-Time-For-Us-To-Close-The-Church-And-Deal-With-These-People-Peter-Obi.html

Lalasticlala mynd44 Ishilove Dominique

Prayer has its place; but prayer without action, faith without work, is dead on arrival .

An average religious fanatic thinks prayers can fix things in Nigeria... we've been praying since the days of 1963, it is getting even worse !!! We must rise above tribe and religion and take our own destiny !!!

We need to cleanse our political System or else this country can never attain it's height with the current state of looting

Look at the person you decievers called a christian a person that want to close church because of his personal ambition i refuse to be decieve by obiturary.

It's time really

This kind of perspective can land Peter Obi in trouble.
Too much on media interviews can make someone expose himself.

Ask Awolowo

WATCHOVER:
This kind of perspective can land Peter Obi in trouble.
Too much on media interviews can make someone expose himself.

Ask Awolowo

We love it that way. He tells us what he wants to do, we know why he is traveling, we know where he is. That’s what Nigerians want? Why did tinubu travel again? Where is Atiku?

Ddeliverer007:


We love it that way. He tells us what he wants to do, we know why he is traveling, we know where he is. That’s what Nigerians want? Why did tinubu travel again? Where is Atiku?

Common on I don't dislike Obi am only telling him to be cautious, all this interview if not careful might be trap

I like this sociopolitical reawakening coming from someone who have excelled in business and politics.

Young people, let's shun religious and tribal sentiments and put these wicked oldies where they belong.

If Nigeria works today, we, our children and their children will enjoy it. Imagine children born in a generation where #1 has no value; things can only get worse when these people continue.

Again, if you keep supporting these idiots in power because of selfish gains, one day the monsters they have created will either destroy you or your loved ones. Banditry is already manifesting and Nigeria is paying the heavy price.

Durabest:
Look at the person you decievers called a christian a person that want to close church because of his personal ambition i refuse to be decieve by obiturary.

A reflection of your struggle with comprehension.

OBI should be careful should he won’t be misconstrued by this daredevil politicians

WATCHOVER:

Common on I don't dislike Obi am only telling him to be cautious, all this interview if not careful might be trap

Nope. His fame is increasing daily