By Ayomide Otitoju
The 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has embarked on a pilgrimage to Rome, where he offered prayers for divine intervention in Nigeria’s political, social, and economic challenges.
In a statement shared via his official X handle, Obi said his journey to the Holy City was an act of faith aimed at “taking Nigeria’s situation to God,” while calling on citizens to remain steadfast and hopeful for a better future.
“With hearts full of gratitude, we thanked God that, despite our differences and the many challenges faced over 65 years of independence, He has kept us together as one nation,” Obi said.
The former Anambra State governor revealed that during the pilgrimage, he and his wife visited the four major Papal Basilicas in Rome — St. Mary Major, St. Paul Outside the Walls, St. John Lateran, and St. Peter’s Basilica. They joined other Nigerian pilgrims in prayers for peace, unity, and responsible leadership in Nigeria.
Obi explained that the trip coincided with the Jubilee Year, observed every 25 years, which he and his wife dedicated to seeking forgiveness for the nation’s shortcomings and divine intervention in the suffering of the Nigerian people.
“We prayed for the emergence of selfless and compassionate leaders whose hearts God would touch — leaders who are truthful, altruistic, and committed to the common good,” he said.
The couple also participated in sacred rites, passing through the Holy Doors of the Papal Basilicas and praying at each site for God’s mercy upon Nigeria. At St. Peter’s Basilica, they attended the Papal General Audience, where His Holiness Pope Leo XIV delivered a message of hope and perseverance. Obi and his wife later had a private audience with the Pope, during which they requested prayers for Nigeria.
Reflecting on the experience, Obi emphasized that while prayer is essential, faith must be accompanied by action.
“I believe in the power and providence of God,” he said. “Yet, as we lift our nation before Him in prayer, we must not surrender to fatalism. Faith calls us to action — to honesty, diligence, and love — for the healing and progress of our country.”
The former governor concluded by reaffirming his optimism for a renewed Nigeria built on unity, justice, and shared responsibility.
