Apostle Emmanuel Iren has spoken out about the ongoing discussion concerning the potential effects of church vigils on national productivity, responding to a comment made by Peter Obi, the Labour Party candidate, regarding “turning night vigils into night shifts.”
Gists9ja reports that this remark, made during a podcast hosted by popular radio presenter Chinedu Ani Emmanuel, has stirred debate, prompting Iren to offer his perspective.
In a video that quickly went viral, Apostle Iren expressed his disagreement with Obi’s statement, emphasizing that while he has long supported Obi’s ideologies, he found this particular comment concerning. Iren pointed out that he had previously praised Obi for his personal modesty and had even posted a photo with him on social media, showing his admiration for the politician’s approach to leadership. “For the record, I have been an avid supporter of Peter Obi. I even shared a picture of us on this platform,” he said, highlighting the positive aspects of his past endorsement.
However, the apostle took issue with Obi’s suggestion, believing it misrepresents the role of church vigils. Iren emphasized that while there are indeed individuals who focus solely on prayer and neglect active efforts to improve the nation, “no amount of prayer will substitute for productive labor or electing the right people to lead the nation.” He argued that a balance between spiritual practice and civic responsibility is necessary.
Addressing the comparison between church vigils and night shifts, Iren firmly rejected the idea as a false choice. He stressed that suggesting church vigils should be replaced by night shifts presents a misleading dilemma. “It’s a fallacy to say that instead of vigils, we should have night shifts,” he argued, pointing out that in many developed countries, night shifts are not common. “Church vigils are not the reason people don’t work night shifts. If you want more shifts, hold the government accountable! And even then, people should have the freedom to choose how they spend their personal time.”
Iren also took issue with the claim that church vigils are held regularly throughout the week, stressing that such generalizations misrepresent the reality of church activities. “Almost no church holds vigils every day, Monday through Friday, both morning and night,” he clarified. “Three times a week might seem like a lot, but it’s certainly not every day. Moreover, different church subgroups often hold meetings, meaning not everyone participates in the same events.”
He described the argument against vigils as a “straw man”—an exaggerated version of reality meant to easily win the argument, rather than addressing the true nature of church attendance.
Further, Iren dismissed the notion that attending church multiple times a week detracts from national productivity. “If the average Christian attends church no more than twice, or at most three times a week, to generalize that this hurts productivity is misleading,” he said. “Going to the gym or socializing that many times a week isn’t considered excessive. But attending church? That’s portrayed as a problem? It’s simply dishonest.”
Acknowledging that not everyone shares his faith, Iren was understanding of those who see no value in spiritual practices. “If you aren’t a believer and don’t see the point of spiritual exercise, I understand. But even then, people should have the right to use their personal time as they see fit,” he said.
Iren also pointed out the positive contributions of churches to national productivity. “The church has contributed to the nation’s productivity in tangible ways. Many skills such as music, photography, and videography are developed within the church. Even many secular artists honed their talents in church settings,” he noted, highlighting the broader societal benefits of religious institutions.
In conclusion, while Iren reiterated his unwavering support for Peter Obi’s broader ideologies, he respectfully disagreed with Obi’s specific comment regarding church vigils. “This isn’t an attack on Mr. Peter Obi as a person. I just respectfully disagree, and I believe I have the right to do so as a stakeholder. I remain a supporter of his ideologies,” Iren affirmed.
