Followers of controversial Catholic priest Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka have marched out in numbers to protest the ban on the Adoration Ministry Enugu headed by the priest.
Gatekeepers News reports that Bishop of Enugu Catholic Diocese, Most. Rev. Callistus Onaga on Saturday banned all priests and Catholic faithful from attending Mbaka’s Adoration Ministry over the priest’s comment on Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
Mbaka had, on Wednesday, declared that Obi is a stingy man and can never be Nigeria’s President. He also urged his followers not to vote for a “stingy man”, saying it was better to have an old man as President than a ‘stingy young man’.
“A stingy man, that cannot give people his money, with this hunger ravaging the land, and you are saying he is the one you want. You want to die of hunger? Are you people insane? Where is the Holy Spirit?”
He stressed: “I did not say he is a bad man; I said he is a stingy man. A hungry man wants someone that is generous; the man has so much money, but he is ‘I, me, myself’. But that money will not be useful to him.”
Mbaka’s comment was condemned by many from different quarters and the Catholic Diocese of Enugu also dissociated itself, saying Mbaka’s views on the matter are “entirely personal to him and do not represent the position of the Catholic Diocese of Enugu”.
On Friday, Mbaka in a statement he personally, said his intention was not to malign Obi’s image but to pray for him.
“In any way, the supporters of Mr. Peter Obi feel offended by my utterances or however I was misunderstood by them, I ask for their understanding and forgiveness.
“My intention is not to fight or malign Mr. Peter Obi. He is my friend and remains my friend and brother I love him and I wish him success. May God bless him and his good supporters. God’s will be done in his political endeavours.
The Enugu Catholic Diocese however banned all Catholic faithful and clergy in the Diocese from having anything to do with the Mbaka’s Adoration Ministry, saying some of the teachings and utterances of Fr Mbaka at the Catholic Adoration Ministry were not consistent with the teachings and faith of the Catholic Church.
Unpleased with the development, Mbaka’s followers gathered on Sunday morning at the Adoration ground and started a massive protest against Bishop Onaga.
The protesters, who chanted songs condemned the Bishop with unprintable names and queried his authority for clamping down on the Mbaka’s Ministry.
One of them said: “Our Spiritual Director has done nothing wrong. He is a man of God and talks as the spirit leads him. So, Bishop Onaga cannot just wake up and ban the ministry. They are trying to dictate to him what to say and what not to say.”
The angry protesters also attacked journalists and anyone who attempted to take pictures of the protest.
