By Opeyemi Adelakun
Former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, has said Nigerians place too much responsibility on Jesus because of gaps in healthcare and social infrastructure, urging governments to provide the facilities citizens need.
Obi made the remark on Friday at the 22nd All Nigeria Editors Conference organised by the Nigerian Guild of Editors in Enugu.
The conference was held under the theme, “The Ballot, the Media and the Task of Keeping Democracy Alive,” with the sub-theme, “When Lies Look Real: Detecting and Debunking AI Misinformation Before, During, and After Elections.”
Speaking on the state of healthcare in Nigeria, Obi said many Nigerians resort to prayer when they fall ill because they lack access to basic healthcare services.
He said the situation was particularly serious in communities where people struggle to afford food and cannot access primary healthcare.
According to Obi, Nigerians should not be left to depend on religious intervention for problems that governments can address through effective public services.
“The job we give Jesus in Nigeria is too much. Let’s help Him by building more hospitals and providing social infrastructure,” Obi said.
The former governor argued that investment in healthcare should go beyond major medical centres, stressing the importance of accessible primary healthcare facilities in communities.
He also criticised what he described as inadequate funding of Nigeria’s healthcare and educational institutions compared with their counterparts in other countries.
Obi urged journalists and other Nigerians to continue questioning government policies, budgets and priorities, particularly where public spending affects essential services.
He said improving healthcare infrastructure would not only make medical treatment more accessible but also reduce the need for Nigerians to seek treatment abroad.
Obi’s remarks came as he challenged the media to hold political leaders accountable and scrutinise their records, qualifications, statements and actions ahead of elections.
He said citizens deserved governments that could provide basic services rather than leaving people to seek solutions to social and economic problems through prayer alone.
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