Tobias Sylvester
The Spiritual Director, Adoration Ministry Enugu Nigeria, Rev Fr Ejike Mbaka has distanced himself from those who protested against the ban imposed on his ministry by the Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Most Rev Callistus Onaga.
Ejike Mbaka Followers Protest
KanyiDaily recalls that Bishop Onaga had banned Catholics from attending the Adoration Ministry, following Mbaka’s recent utterances against the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi.
Barely 24 hours after the ban, Mbaka’s followers gathered on Sunday morning at the Adoration Ground and started a massive protest against Bishop Onaga.
The protesters, who chanted anti-Bishop Onaga songs, called him unprintable names, querying his authority for clamping down on Mbaka’s Ministry.
The supporters, who threatened to take the protest to the premises of the bishop at the Independent Layout, Enugu, were, however, prevented from doing so as security operatives rose to the occasion to ensure they did not protest beyond the Adoration ground.
Some of the protesters, who were seen chanting: “No more Onaga”, “Onaga Must Go,” were also violent as they stopped people, including newsmen from taking pictures or videos of what was happening.
Reacting in a statement on Monday, Mbaka denied his involvement in the protest, urging his followers to remain calm and desist from attacking or insulting the bishop.
The statement reads, “Dear people of God, I greet you in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ. My attention has been drawn to activities that took place in the Adoration ground this Sunday (19/06/2022),” the statement reads.
“I am not in any way involved in such activity. We received with obedience the directive issued by my Bishop, His Excellency Most Rev CVC Onaga, on June 17, 2022.
“May I therefore appeal to the faithful, in particular, members of Adoration Ministry Enugu, Nigeria, to remain calm, and united with the body of Christ in the Diocese and also refrain from any measure of violence, either in action or by abusive utterances.
“Those who take to attacking or insulting my dear Bishop should desist from such. The Bishop is the Chief Shepherd of the Church in the Diocese and we remain his flock who in every way and at all times is expected to be respectful, obedient and willing to respond favourably to his apostolic directives.”
Mbaka reminded his followers that activities at the Adoration ministry remain suspended and that the ministry is “ever submissive to the mother church.”
“Once again, I pledge my obedience to my Bishop. Adorers should endeavour to attend masses on a regular basis. I request your prayers and I promise to be praying for you in this perilous time.”
The recent drama involving Father Mbaka started on June 16, when he declared that Peter Obi cannot be Nigeria’s President because he is a stingy man who refused to donate to the church.
Mbaka, who also described Obi as a joker, said many abusive things about the LP presidential candidate which drew public anger toward him on social media.
Amid the outrage, the Catholic Diocese of Enugu had issued a statement where it condemned and dissociated the church from Mbaka’s comments.
