…Obi also defended Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, describing him as one of Nigeria’s foremost religious leaders who has consistently promoted peace, prayer, reconciliation and national unity
THUR JUNE 04 2026-theGBJournal| Peter Obi, the Presidential flag bearer of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has urged young Nigerians to reject efforts to inflame ethnic and religious divisions, warning against what he described as attempts by political actors to manipulate public opinion ahead of future elections.
In a statement addressed to Nigerian youth on Thursday, Obi reflected on the aftermath of the 2023 presidential election, particularly in Lagos, saying political debate had shifted away from issues such as governance, competence and national development toward ethnic and tribal sentiments.
Obi said many Nigerians had unknowingly become involved in conversations that deepened divisions, arguing that politicians who struggle to compete on ideas or performance often exploit ethnic and religious differences to gain political advantage.
“Their calculation is simple: a divided people are easier to manipulate than a united people,” Obi said.
The former Anambra State governor said he was seeing signs of similar tactics re-emerging, sometimes in more subtle forms, through narratives that are amplified on social media and other platforms.
Obi also defended Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, describing him as one of Nigeria’s foremost religious leaders who has consistently promoted peace, prayer, reconciliation and national unity.
He said it would be unfair to place responsibilities for Nigeria’s political future on the 84-year-old cleric, arguing that the task of driving reforms and national development belonged primarily to younger Nigerians.
“We must be careful not to become instruments in the hands of those who secretly nurture division while publicly preaching unity,” Obi said.
He urged Nigerians to question political narratives, verify claims and resist attempts to weaponise ethnicity, religion or loyalty to respected leaders.
“The Nigeria of our dreams can only be built by citizens who refuse to be divided, who choose unity over hatred, and who place our collective future above narrow interests,” Obi said.
Nigeria’s elections have often been shaped by ethnic and religious considerations, with political analysts warning that inflammatory rhetoric can heighten tensions in Africa’s most populous nation, particularly during election cycles.
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