'Pray for us politicians to stop stealing' – Peter Obi tells Nigerians

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2027 election, Peter Obi, has asked Nigerians to pray for politicians to stop diverting public funds, blaming the political class for many of the country's persistent problems.

Obi made the remarks during a Sunday worship service at Koinonia Global, where he was recognised by Apostle Joshua Selman, founder of Eternity Network International.

Selman invited the former Anambra State governor, who was among the worshippers, to say a few words to the congregation.

Appearing surprised by the invitation, Obi said he was uncertain about what to say before turning his message into an appeal for prayers for Nigeria's political leaders.

“I don’t know what to say, but people are here for different reasons. “We are all here for prayers, but pray for us politicians to stop stealing.”

The remarks, which were broadcast live on YouTube, drew attention to Obi's longstanding criticism of corruption and the management of public resources.

‘Politicians are the problem’

Obi argued that Nigeria's difficulties should not be blamed on the country itself, saying the nation's greatest obstacle was the conduct of its political leadership.

“Politicians are the problem of the country. There is nothing wrong with the country, but the politicians are the issue.”

He subsequently urged Nigerians to pray for political leaders collectively rather than separating them into those considered good or bad according to party affiliation or individual performance.

“Pray for us politicians. Let God touch us to cease stealing. Do not say one is good and another is bad. We (politicians) are the problem of the country.”

His appeal comes as political parties and prospective candidates begin positioning themselves ahead of Nigeria's 2027 general elections, with corruption, accountability and the management of public resources expected to remain major campaign issues.

Obi compares Nigeria with other nations

The former governor also reflected on Nigeria's development trajectory, questioning why the country has not achieved the level of progress recorded by some nations that became independent around the same period.

He encouraged Nigerians to read “Growing Apart,” a book examining divergent development paths among countries, saying his experiences abroad had convinced him that better outcomes were possible when nations adopted sound policies and institutions.

“I’ve seen things work in other countries. People should refrain from embezzling public funds. If we do the right thing, things will improve,” Obi said.

His message ultimately returned to what he described as a simple requirement for national progress: responsible leadership and an end to the misuse of public money.

For Obi, Nigeria's challenge is not a shortage of resources, but what happens to those resources once they enter the hands of those entrusted with managing them.