The Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2027 presidential election, Peter Obi, has urged Nigerians to pray for political leaders to stop stealing public funds, describing politicians as the major problem confronting the country.

Obi made the remarks while speaking at a religious gathering in Abuja over the weekend.

The former Anambra State governor told the congregation that Nigerians should pray for a transformation in the conduct of politicians and for leaders to develop greater commitment to the nation’s development.

“I don’t know what to say, but people are here for different reasons. We are all here for prayers, but pray for us politicians to stop stealing. Politicians are the problem of the country. There is nothing wrong with the country, but the politicians are the issue,” Obi said.

He further called on Nigerians to pray for politicians collectively rather than attempting to distinguish between those they consider good or bad.

“Pray for us politicians. Let God touch us to cease stealing. Do not say one is good and another is bad. We (politicians) are the problem of the country,” he added.

Reflecting on Nigeria’s development compared with countries that were once at similar stages of development, Obi urged Nigerians to read Growing Apart, a book that examines the divergent development paths of nations.

He said his experiences in other countries had shown him that Nigeria could achieve significant progress if public officials managed the country’s resources responsibly.

“I’ve seen things work in other countries. People should refrain from embezzling public funds. If we do the right thing, things will improve,” Obi concluded.