Anthony Emeka Nwosu
Former Governor of Anambra State and Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Mr. Peter Obi, has undertaken a spiritual journey to Rome as part of a pilgrimage marking the Catholic Church’s Jubilee Year. The devout Catholic leader said his visit was aimed at “taking Nigeria’s situation to God” amid the country’s ongoing social and economic challenges.
Obi, who had earlier embarked on a two-day trip to the United States, where he addressed the Friendship Club on October 4 and spoke at the 1st Ubuntu African Youth Assembly in Washington on October 5, departed that same evening for Rome. He arrived on October 6 to join his wife, Mrs. Margaret Obi, who had already been in the Italian capital in preparation for the pilgrimage.
In a statement shared on his official platforms, Obi explained that the pilgrimage was both a spiritual retreat and a national intercession. “This year marks a Jubilee Year, an event celebrated every twenty-five years, and my dearest wife and I chose to dedicate our prayers to Nigeria,” he said. “With hearts full of gratitude, we 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—a rare and profound blessing for which we remain deeply thankful.”
During the pilgrimage, Obi said he and his wife offered prayers of thanksgiving, forgiveness, and supplication for the nation, asking God to heal Nigeria and raise selfless, compassionate, and competent leaders. “We prayed for leaders whose hearts God would touch—leaders who would be truthful in word and deed, altruistic in service, and committed to using public resources for the common good,” he stated.
The former governor emphasized the need for leadership rooted in character, capacity, and compassion, saying that such values were essential for national unity and progress.
As part of their spiritual journey, Obi and his wife visited several significant holy sites in Rome. On Tuesday, October 7, they passed through three of the four Holy Doors of the major Papal Basilicas — St. Mary Major, St. Paul Outside the Walls, and St. John Lateran — offering prayers for divine mercy upon Nigeria. At St. Mary Major, they prayed and reflected at the tomb of a late Pope; at St. Paul Outside the Walls, they were received by Cardinal James Harvey, who led them through the Holy Door and shared insights on the basilica’s history and the spiritual essence of the Jubilee Year.
Their final stop was the Papal Basilica of St. John Lateran, where they joined other pilgrims in prayer and thanksgiving. The couple also visited the Scala Sancta (Holy Steps) — believed to be the steps Jesus Christ ascended before His trial by Pontius Pilate — where they prayed in deep reverence, concluding a day of solemn devotion.
Obi’s visit culminated in an audience with His Holiness, Pope Francis, during which he reiterated his prayers for Nigeria’s unity, peace, and leadership renewal.
The pilgrimage, Obi noted, was not only a personal spiritual exercise but also an act of faith for Nigeria’s future. “We sought forgiveness for our national transgressions and implored God to intervene in the suffering of the Nigerian people,” he said. “We prayed that He would open the door of His mercy to Nigeria.”
As Nigeria continues to grapple with economic hardship, insecurity, and governance challenges, Obi’s Rome pilgrimage underscores his consistent message that moral renewal and spiritual reflection are essential to the nation’s recovery and development.
