Tobias Sylvester
The Catholic Diocese of Enugu has suspended Reverend Father Ejike Mbaka from church activities for one month over his recent his recent criticism of President Muhammadu Buhari’s Government.
KanyiDaily recalls that Fr Mbaka had declared that President Buhari has failed Nigeria woefully and he should resign or face impeachment over the high rate of insecurity in the country.
Fr Mbaka, who publicly endorsed Buhari in 2015 and repeated same for his reelection in 2019, had complained recently during a service that no civilised leader would remain in power with the spate of violence in the country.
He called on the National Assembly to impeach Buhari if the President refuses to step down in the face of intense poverty and insecurity across the nation.
It was learnt that the diocesan bishop, Callistus Valentine Onaga had called Father Mbaka following his repeated criticism of Buhari’s government and warned him that his conduct was smearing the image of Catholic Church.
Peoples Gazette reports that Fr Mbaka was later asked to proceed on 30 days suspension with effect from May 3, 2021, after being summoned by Bishop Onaga.
Following his suspension, Mbaka returned to his ministry that lies north of the outskirts of Enugu city centre, where he subsequently incited his members against the bishop, sources said.
Mbaka’s followers claimed without evidence that he was kidnapped by Bishop Onaga and handed over to the State Security Service.
The mob subsequently marched on the premises of the bishop on Wednesday morning, looting and destroying assets therein. They also descended on the Holy Ghost Cathedral, again looting and destroying items in the building.
The members also went to town to allege that the SSS had arrested Mr Mbaka — generating widespread media reports despite lacking requisite corroboration.
A spokesman for the SSS denied taking Mr Mbaka into custody or coming in any contacts with him when reached by The Gazette, contrary to his followers’ rumours.
Church sources said Mbaka’s latest suspension was being viewed as significant for its undertone, but not the first time the fiery priest would face administrative action.
“We know people will link this to his confrontation with Buhari, but he was once demoted from a parish priest to a deputy under a parish priest.
“He had also been transferred from bigger parishes to smaller ones for his frequent infractions in the past,” a church official told TheGazette.
Still, church officials admitted Mbaka’s Adoration Ministry has been a cash cow for the Enugu Diocese, even though it was built by Mr Mbaka and not directly under its control.
“The real problem is the Diocese has been financially dependent on Mbaka, collecting his millions,” a source said.
He added that some of the senior clerics themselves have also been in bed with politicians whom Mr Mbaka has long railed against.
KanyiDaily recalls that Fr Mbaka had earlier accused Bishop Onaga of conniving with other church leaders to detain him because of the blessing he pronounced on IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, as well as his recent his recent criticism of Buhari’s Government.
