I am part of Nigeria’s bad leadership; Nigerians pray for looting to stop: Peter Obi

“Always put your prayer points to God to touch the hearts of leaders, including me, to use public money for public good…The stealing has to stop,” said Mr Obi.

News Agency of Nigeria • March 21, 2025

Peter Obi, President Bola Tinubu, and Atiku Abubakar

Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, says he is part of a long history of bad leadership in Nigeria. The politician urged Nigerians to pray for him and other leaders in the country, including President Bola Tinubu.

The former Anambra governor claimed that looting of public funds was going on in the country and felt that prayer could stop it.

According to him, the country’s major problem is poor leadership and the wastage of public resources.

Mr Obi said, “We are the problem of Nigeria. Nigeria is a country God blessed with everything and removes only one thing we need: bad leadership.

“So pray for us. Do remember me and everybody who is listening in prayers so that God will change our hearts to think for the country.”

Mr Obi stated this at the Service of Songs of Okuji Awa, a former deputy comptroller general of the Nigeria Customs Service, held at the Lagos Presbyterian Church Yaba on Thursday in Lagos.

The Labour Party politician, who noted that Nigeria was going through a difficult phase, said the country possessed everything to be great.

“Whenever I have the privilege of speaking to Nigerians, I will say, please remember Nigeria in your prayers. Remember Nigeria in your prayers. We are going through a difficult time.

“Always put your prayer points to God to touch the hearts of leaders, including me, to use public money for public good. It is not our money. The stealing has to stop.

“They (Nigerians) must pray to God to help them (leaders) to think about the future of the society their children will live in,” Mr Obi explained.

Pouring encomiums on the deceased, Mr Obi said the late customs officer used to be his acquaintance when he was trading in Lagos in the 1980s and was popularly known as ‘Awa Customs’ and ‘Tariff Wizard’.

On Thursday, Mr Tinubu’s government dismissed the coalition of opposition figures—including Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, Peter Obi of the Labour Party, and Nasir El-Rufai of the Social Democratic Party—as one driven by hate, berating the coalescing opposition politicians as “frustrated” and “sore losers.”

(NAN)

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