Father Mbaka.
Politics and religion are now firmly married in Nigeria.Nothing is scared anymore,i still can't believe political parties are getting involved in the business of the churn.What next?
After Fr. Ejike Mbaka of the Adoration Ministries, Enugu was transferred yesterday to a new parish at Enugu suburb, thousands of his members wept uncontrollably has they saw him off to his new parish where the Father himself admitted it was a different life he was used too and will obviously suffer but it’s okay since it is the work of God and something similar was written in the bible about the people of God. The news however went viral this morning, and the All Progressive Congress, APC, has released a statement saying though the Catholic has a routine of transferring priests, but in the case of Father Mbaka it was influenced by an external body. They said not only will he leave a duplex he once lived he will be going to his new parish to live in a one room apartment and was also demoted to be an assistant parish priest.
“Whereas we accept that the transfer of priests is a routine exercise of the great Catholic Church, however we do not wholly accept a situation where the church allows external forces to influence transfer as the Mbaka’s case suggests.
“Otherwise, future liberation clergy who speak truth to power will be hamstrung to the detriment of the society.
“Our major concern is the security implications and the fate of his flocks who are mostly the downtrodden who may find it difficult to go to Emene for salvation and healing.
“We frown at anything which will put Fr. Mbaka in harms way or deny his flocks healing,” the statement said.
The APC South-East Caucus spokesman, Mr. Osita Okechukwu, who signed the statement accused the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo of playing a role in Mbaka’s travails.
“As a party we have watched with concern and trepidation the criticism, the attack, assault and unpleasant comments hurled against Fr. Mbaka since he providentially prophesied that President Buhari would win the 2015 elections.
“Even the Church did not spare him – he was called unprintable names, yet his prophecy came true. We are happy that Fr. Mbaka was vindicated.
“It must be pointed out that accusing fingers were pointed at the direction of some anti-Buhari elements like Ohanaeze Ndigbo, a group that didn’t want to hear the name of Buhari – even though Ohanaeze denied the allegation, doubts still persists.
“For we are still at a loss why a senior priest will be degraded to an assistant parish priest.
“We repeat that we are in solidarity with Fr. Mbaka and our major concern is the security of Fr. Mbaka and the suffering of his flocks mostly the poor who need his healing powers.
“We had thought that His Lordship Bishop Calistus Onaga could have retained him at the Adoration Ground, as the Bishop Emeritus Gbuji did because of security of his life and easy access by his flocks,” the statement read.