Joshua Bamiloye, Son of Renowned Evangelists, Responds to Peter Obi’s Comments on Church Vigils
The recent podcast appearance of former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, has sparked a heated debate on social media, with many questioning his views on the impact of church vigils on Nigeria’s productivity. Obi suggested that reducing the frequency of these gatherings could lead to increased economic progress, proposing a shift towards night shifts focused on productivity.
He believes that late-night church gatherings might be contributing to poverty in the country and that a focus on productive work during the night hours could be a solution. According to Obi, “It’s attractive, politics and church but it has to be dismantled. We are going to turn night vigil into night shift so that people can be productive.”
However, Joshua Bamiloye, son of prominent Nigerian evangelists, Mike and Gloria Bamiloye, has disagreed with Obi’s views, calling them misguided and insulting. “So now vigils are the reason Nigeria isn’t productive? The mentality of blaming church attendance for Nigeria’s problems is very misguided and, at best, an insult,” Bamiloye wrote in a social media post.
Bamiloye argues that if productivity is the primary concern, then other social events, like recreational gatherings, comedy shows, and concerts, should also be curtailed. “Vigils are commonly held on Fridays, right before the weekend. If we want to be productive, why not also ban recreational events, comedy shows, and concerts—in fact, ban every social gathering?”
The pastor also emphasized that Nigeria can be both religious and prosperous, rejecting the notion that the two are mutually exclusive. “It’s possible to be a Christian and still contribute to the nation’s growth and development. Let’s not blame the church for our problems,” he added.
