Peter Obi, Nigeria's Labour Party presidential candidate, sparked controversy by suggesting church night vigils should be turned into night shifts to improve productivity. Joshua Mike-Bamiloye, son of evangelist Mike Bamiloye, criticized Obi's comments, arguing that blaming church attendance ignores deeper issues affecting Nigeria's productivity.
In a recent statement that stirred controversy, Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate for the Labour Party, suggested that the time Nigerians spend in church attending night vigils should be redirected to night shifts to enhance productivity.
Speaking on the Honest Bunch podcast, Obi criticized the prevailing emphasis on church activities, saying, “We are going to turn night vigil into night shift so that people can be productive.” He argued that the frequent church attendance detracts from work culture, reflecting on the visibility of church signs across the country.
However, Joshua Mike-Bamiloye, son of renowned evangelist and filmmaker Mike Bamiloye, vocally opposed Obi’s remarks, labeling them as misguided and insulting. In a spirited response, he pointed out that blaming church attendance for Nigeria's productivity problems ignores the deeper systemic issues at play. “Vigils are commonly held on Fridays, right before the weekend,” he tweeted, challenging Obi’s logic by suggesting that if church gatherings are to be blamed, then recreational activities and social events should also face scrutiny.
Joshua further emphasized that productivity issues in Nigeria stem from unresolved socioeconomic challenges rather than church attendance. He humorously noted that perhaps the country’s oppressive heat might be affecting people’s capacity for sound judgment regarding such matters.
