Peter Obi Seeks Divine Intervention for Nigeria During Pilgrimage to Rome

The 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, has urged Nigerians to remain steadfast in faith and shared responsibility as the country faces political, social, and economic challenges.

In a statement following his recent trip to the United States and Rome, Obi said he used the opportunity to “take Nigeria’s situation to God,” offering prayers for peace, unity, and responsible leadership.

Before heading to Rome, Obi addressed the Friendship Club in the U.S. on October 4 and spoke at the 1st Ubuntu African Youth Assembly in Washington the following day, where he discussed youth empowerment and nation-building.

According to Obi, his pilgrimage coincided with the Catholic Church’s ongoing Jubilee Year, a sacred celebration observed every 25 years. He and his wife, Margaret, dedicated their prayers to Nigeria’s healing and renewal.

“With hearts full of gratitude, we thanked God that, despite our differences and the many challenges faced over sixty-five years of independence, He has kept us together as one nation,” Obi said.

During their stay in Rome, the couple visited the four major Papal Basilicas — St. Mary Major, St. Paul Outside the Walls, St. John Lateran, and St. Peter’s Basilica — where they passed through each Holy Door and prayed for divine mercy upon Nigeria.

At the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, they were received by Cardinal James Harvey, who guided them through the Holy Door and explained the significance of the Jubilee Year.

The pilgrimage concluded with their participation in the Papal General Audience at St. Peter’s Basilica, where they listened to the catechesis of His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV, on hope, perseverance, and faith in adversity. Later, the couple was received in a private audience with the Pope, during which Obi requested special prayers for Nigeria.

“Along the way, we met many Nigerian pilgrims — men and women of faith whose faces shone with quiet hope. Together, we renewed our trust in God’s mercy and in the promise of a better Nigeria,” he said.

Reaffirming his faith in divine providence and civic duty, Obi reminded Nigerians that faith must inspire purposeful action.

“Faith does not absolve us of responsibility; it calls us to action. We must each continue to do our part — with honesty, diligence, and love — for our nation’s healing and progress,” he added.

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