PETER OBI URGES CHURCH TO TAKE ACTIVE ROLE IN REBUILDING NIGERIA’S VALUES

By:Adeleke Barakat

Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has emphasised the need for the Church to help restore core values that can drive Nigeria toward a better future.

In a post shared on his verified X handle on Wednesday, Obi lamented the widespread moral decay in the country, noting rising levels of irresponsibility, societal indiscipline, and a troubling collapse of values. He argued that Nigeria’s challenges persist not due to a lack of knowledge, but because the nation has allowed its value system to deteriorate  where shortcuts are praised, dishonesty rewarded, and integrity pushed aside.

Obi said the Church, as society’s moral anchor, must take the lead in rebuilding values through practical interventions such as skills development, youth mentorship, sustainable community programmes, and continuous engagement. He added that by transforming faith into tangible opportunities, the Church can help young people relearn discipline, hard work, and the understanding that character not corruption is the real foundation of progress.

“After returning from overseas yesterday, I attended the Fourth Enugu Diocesan Synod, where I addressed the theme: ‘The Role of the Church in Youth Empowerment and Community Development.’ I stressed that the Church must go beyond the pulpit and become more actively involved in rebuilding societal values, empowering our youths, and strengthening community structures. Our nation cannot advance while moral decay and declining responsibility continue unchecked.

“Today, shortcuts are glorified, dishonesty is rewarded, and integrity receives little recognition. Even among the highly educated, including professors, ethical decline is becoming more visible.

“To build a nation where integrity is honoured and responsibility embraced, the Church and other serious religious institutions must lead the charge in shaping ethical behaviour and reinforcing societal values.

“By moving from pulpit to people, the Church can inspire a new generation and play a defining role in restoring Nigeria’s values, morals, and social fabric,” he wrote.

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