Peter Obi Dedicates Pilgrimage to Rome to Prayers for a Renewed Nigeria

Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has shared details of his recent spiritual pilgrimage to Rome, where he and his wife offered prayers for Nigeria’s peace, unity, and leadership renewal. The former Anambra State governor said the trip was part of a personal mission to “take Nigeria’s situation to God” amid the country’s persistent economic and social challenges.

In a statement posted on his verified X handle, Obi explained that his visit to the Vatican followed a brief trip to the United States, where he had addressed the Friendship Club on October 4 and participated in the Ubuntu African Youth Assembly in Washington, D.C., on October 5. He revealed that after the U.S. engagements, he proceeded to Rome to join his wife for the Jubilee Year pilgrimage — a sacred Catholic celebration held every twenty-five years.

Obi said he and his wife offered prayers of thanksgiving for Nigeria’s continued existence despite its many challenges, seeking divine intervention in the nation’s leadership and collective destiny.

“We thanked God that despite our differences and the challenges of over sixty-five years of independence, He has kept us together as one nation,” Obi wrote. “We sought forgiveness for our national transgressions and prayed for leaders who will serve truthfully, selflessly, and for the common good — leaders whose actions will reflect character, competence, and compassion.”

During the pilgrimage, Obi said they visited the four major Papal Basilicas in Rome, passing through the Holy Doors at each — symbolic acts of seeking divine mercy. At St. Mary Major, they prayed and reflected at the grave of the late Pope Francis. They were also received by Cardinal James Harvey at the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, before proceeding to St. John Lateran Basilica and the Scala Sancta (Holy Steps), where Jesus is believed to have stood before Pontius Pilate.

On October 8, Obi and his wife attended the Papal General Audience at St. Peter’s Basilica, where they listened to the Pope’s catechesis on hope, faith, and perseverance. The couple later passed through the final Holy Door at St. Peter’s, completing the spiritual journey.

Obi revealed that he was privileged to meet Pope Leo XIV, to whom he appealed for prayers for Nigeria. He described the encounter as deeply humbling and spiritually uplifting, noting that he also met several Nigerian pilgrims in Rome who shared the same hope for a better nation.

The former governor emphasized that while prayer is powerful, it must be accompanied by action and personal responsibility.

“Faith does not absolve us of responsibility; it calls us to action,” Obi said. “As Nigerians, we must continue to do our part with honesty, diligence, and love for our nation. A new Nigeria is possible.”

The visit has generated mixed reactions online — while many of Obi’s supporters praised his gesture as an expression of faith and patriotism, critics dismissed it as a political performance ahead of future elections.

Nonetheless, Obi’s message of renewed hope, national unity, and moral leadership continues to resonate with many Nigerians who believe that faith and integrity must guide the country’s path forward.