Peter Obi on His US and Rome Trip: Taking Nigeria’s Situation to God

Former Presidential Candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, shares a deeply personal reflection on his recent journey to the United States and Rome, where he dedicated a pilgrimage to praying for Nigeria’s future.

My Visit to the USA and Rome: Taking Nigeria’s Situation to God. After a busy two-day trip to the United States—where I addressed the Friendship Club on Saturday, October 4, and spoke at the 1st Ubuntu African Youth Assembly in Washington on Sunday, October 5—I immediately departed for Rome. I arrived on October 6 to join my dearest wife, who was already waiting for me.

A Jubilee Year of Prayer for Nigeria

This year marks a Jubilee Year, an event celebrated every twenty-five years, and my wife and I chose to dedicate our prayers entirely to Nigeria.
With hearts full of gratitude, we first 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. This is a rare and profound blessing for which we remain deeply thankful.

We also sought forgiveness for our national transgressions and implored God to intervene in the suffering of the Nigerian people. Crucially, we prayed for the injection of selfless and compassionate leaders into our political landscape—leaders whose hearts God would touch.

We asked for leaders who would be:

• Truthful in word and deed.
• Altruistic in service.
• Committed to using public resources for the common good.
• Decisions would reflect competence, capacity, character, and commitment to the welfare of all.
• They must understand that they were created to live in community with others and must ensure their actions benefit the community as a whole.
  A Pilgrimage Through Rome’s Holy Doors
  On Tuesday, October 7, as part of our pilgrimage, we passed through three Holy Doors of the four major Papal Basilicas in Rome. At each one, we prayed that God would open the door of His mercy to Nigeria.
• St. Mary Major: We prayed, passed through the Holy Door, and reflected at the grave of the late Pope Francis.
• Papal Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls: Cardinal James Harvey warmly received us, led us through the Holy Door, and shared the basilica’s rich history and the deep significance of the Jubilee Year.
  • Papal Basilica of St. John Lateran: Dedicated to Saints John the Baptist and John the Evangelist, we joined other pilgrims, passed through the Holy Door, and joined in prayer.
    We then proceeded to the Scala Sancta—the Holy Steps which Jesus ascended before Pontius Pilate—where we prayed with profound reverence, completing a day of deep spiritual reflection at some of Rome’s most sacred sites.
    The Papal Audience and Final Reflection on Wednesday, October 8, we rose early for the Papal General Audience at St. Peter’s Basilica. We were blessed to hear the Catechesis of His Holiness on hope, perseverance, and steadfast faith in times of hardship.
    Afterward, we passed through the final Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica, praying and reflecting deeply on God’s mercy, thus completing our pilgrimage through the four doors with hearts filled with gratitude and renewed faith.
    At St. Peter’s, we were privileged to be received in audience by His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV (@Pontifex), to whom we humbly appealed for prayers for our beloved country, Nigeria. Along the way, we met several Nigerian pilgrims: men and women of faith whose faces shone with quiet hope. Together, we renewed our trust in God’s divine mercy and in the promise of a renewed and better Nigeria.
    
  • Faith Calls Us To Action
    I believe fervently in the power and providence of God. Yet, as we lift our nation before Him in prayer, we must not surrender to fatalism. Faith does not absolve us of responsibility; rather, it calls us to action. As Nigerians, we must each continue to do our part—with honesty, diligence, and love—for the healing and progress of our country.
    Do you have any specific section you’d like me to focus on or rephrase differently?