Joshua Bamiloye, the son of renowned Nigerian evangelists Mike and Gloria Bamiloye, has taken to social media to criticize former presidential candidate Peter Obi’s recent remarks regarding church vigils. During an episode of the Honest Bunch Podcast, Obi suggested that Nigeria would benefit more from productivity-driven night shifts rather than traditional church vigils, which he argued contribute to poverty in the country. He called for a national shift towards night work instead of congregating for vigils.
In response, Bamiloye expressed strong disagreement with Obi’s perspective, stating that the politician’s comments misrepresent the deeper issues affecting Nigeria. He argued that focusing on religious gatherings like vigils distracts from more significant systemic problems that hinder the country’s productivity.
Bamiloye’s stance struck a chord with many, who perceived Obi’s comments as a critique of long-standing religious practices. He highlighted that singling out vigils—often held on Friday nights, just before the weekend—makes little sense in a nation facing challenges that extend well beyond church activities. Bamiloye also challenged Obi by questioning why churchgoers were being blamed for economic difficulties when other events, such as concerts and nightlife activities, were not similarly criticized.
This exchange has ignited a broader conversation about the intersection of faith and socioeconomic progress in Nigeria, with many weighing in on the role of religious practices in the nation’s development.
He wrote;
“So now vigils are the reason Nigeria isn’t productive? Boy, the mentality of blaming church attendance for Nigeria’s problems is a very misguided one and, at best, an insult.
“Vigils are commonly held on Fridays, right before the weekend. If we want to be productive, why not also ban recreational events, comedy shows, concerts—in fact, ban every social gathering.
“The hot weather seems to have corroded some minds to the point that they fail to think clearly and address the real problems”