“Are church vigils really Nigeria’s problem?” – Mike Bamiloye’s son slams Peter Obi

• Peter Obi’s bold call to dismantle church activities and repurpose vigils as ‘night shifts of productivity’ has unleashed a storm, stirring deep emotions among Nigeria’s religious circles.
• Joshua Bamiloye, the outspoken son of an influential cleric, wasted no time in unleashing his rage on the Anambra politician.
• With palpable anger, Bamiloye lambasted Obi, unable to fathom how the sacred practice of gathering in God’s house could suddenly be scapegoated as a national problem.

Joshua Bamiloye, the son of Nigeria’s revered evangelists Mike and Gloria Bamiloye, has come out swinging against Peter Obi’s recent comments on church vigils, taking a stand that left social media ablaze.

Obi, speaking on the Honest Bunch Podcast, had controversially argued that Nigeria would be better off shifting focus from church vigils to productivity-driven night shifts, suggested that these faith gatherings were merely breeding poverty.

The politician went as far as to call for fewer church gatherings at night, suggesting that night vigils should give way to night shifts to foster a more ‘productive’ nation.

His remarks, many claimed were a jab at long-standing religious traditions, and for Bamiloye, they crossed the line.

Taking to X, Joshua minced no words in tearing into Obi’s comments, dismissing them as a glaring misdirection that ignored the real sources of Nigeria’s troubles.

Joshua called out Obi for focusing on church gatherings while sidestepping the systemic issues that truly hold back productivity.

According to Bamiloye, singling out vigils—a practice often reserved for Friday nights, just before the weekend—makes little sense in a nation beset by challenges that reach far beyond the walls of the church.

He challenged Obi, asking why churchgoers were being blamed for economic setbacks, while other gatherings like concerts, comedy shows, and nightlife events remained untouched in his critique.

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”

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