The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has blamed the country’s major challenges on poor leadership and called on Nigerians to pray for political leaders ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Obi made the call on Sunday while speaking at Koinonia Global, led by Apostle Joshua Selman. He urged members of the congregation to remember politicians in their prayers and ask God to guide those in positions of authority.
The former Anambra State governor said Nigeria has enough resources to improve the lives of its citizens, but poor management of public wealth has continued to contribute to hardship across the country.
According to Obi, the country’s difficulties are not caused by a lack of natural resources or opportunities. He said the major problem lies with the people entrusted with the responsibility of managing the nation’s affairs.
He appealed to political leaders to develop a stronger commitment to using public funds for the benefit of Nigerians rather than for personal interests. He also called for an end to the misuse and theft of public resources, saying such practices contribute to the suffering experienced by citizens.
Obi said Nigeria could make considerable progress if its wealth was properly invested in areas that directly affect the people, including infrastructure, education, healthcare, employment and other sectors of the economy.
The former governor also drew from his experiences in other countries, saying his visits had allowed him to observe how effective leadership and proper systems could improve the lives of citizens.
He maintained that the difference between Nigeria and countries that have achieved better development was largely connected to the quality of leadership and the way public institutions were managed.
Obi further asked Nigerians not to limit their prayers to politicians they support or oppose. Instead, he urged them to pray for all political leaders, regardless of their parties or political positions.
He said the challenges facing Nigeria could be addressed if those in authority developed the right attitude towards governance and placed the interests of citizens above personal gain.
The former Anambra governor’s remarks come as political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections continue to gather momentum, with politicians and political parties already positioning themselves for the contest.
Obi is expected to remain one of the major opposition figures involved in the 2027 political race, as parties and political groups continue efforts to build support across the country.