Sopuruchi Onwuka

The Roman Catholic Church, Enugu Diocese, has directed all members and priests of the church to deliberately avoid all activities at the Catholic Adoration Ministry Chaplaincy in Enugu, Enugu State, where controversial and dissident Rev Fr Ejike Mbaka holds sway.

In a circular yesterday addressed to all the clergy, religious and lay faithful, in the Catholic Diocese of Enugu, the Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Callistus V.C Onaga, directed all church goers from attending all religious activities conducted by Fr Mbaka at the Adoration Ministry.

The bishop stated that suspension of activities at the Adoration Ministry would remain in force “until due canonical process initiated by the diocese is concluded.”

“My decision is based on the fact that some of the teachings and utterances of Fr. Camillus Ejike Mbaka at the Catholic Adoration Ministry are not consistent with the teachings and faith if the Catholic Church,” Bishop Onaga stated in the circular which was distributed from the Diocesan Secretariat.

The letter which stops short at declaring suspension of Fr Mbaka came “in the light of the happenings in the Catholic Adoration Ministry Chaplaincy Enugu; capable of undermining the faith and teachings; and after several fraternal corrections and admonitions Fr Camillus Ejike Mbaka, the Chaplain of the Ministry,” the Bishop stated.

He pointed out that Fr Mbaka has consistently violated pastoral directives and guidelines for the Adoration Ministry Chaplaincy.

“In fulfillment of my pastoral duties as the Chief Shephard with the obligation to protect and safeguard the Catholic faith and morals in Enugu Diocese, I hereby prohibit all Catholics (clergy, religious and lay faithful) henceforth from attending all religious and liturgical activities of the Catholic Adoration Ministry until the due canonical process initiated by the Diocese is concluded,” the bishop declared.

The Oracle Today reports that the action of the bishop comes belated after years of Fr Mbaka’s open participation in partisan politics, political campaigns and persistent attacks on the former governor of Anambra State, Mr Peter Obi, who is in the presidential race for 2023 polls.

Mbaka had also openly deployed his Catholic Adoration Ministry in partisan campaigns in the 2015 and 2019 political polls. He had swung the opinion and loyalty of his church members from former President Goodluck Jonathan’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to President Muhammadu Buhari’s All Progressive Congress (APC). His narratives on the political and social developments in the country altered with his political affiliation.

Fr Mbaka also participated actively in the political and election crises that engulfed Imo State and toppled the government of former Governor Ihedioha of Imo State. He was the forerunner schemes for enthronement of incumbent Governor Hope Uzodinma whose administration is still engulfed in crisis.

Fr Mbaka was later to enter bitter altercations with the official spokesman of President Muhammadu Buhari, Garba Shehu, who berated Mbaka for using his closeness to the president to seek contracts for proxies. Mbaka had admitted approaching the president with contractors but explained that he was seeking to provide solution to national problems.

Fr Mbaka’s demand for contracts was widely interpreted as seeking rewards for his roles in suppressing Mr Peter Obi’s influence in the South East of the country through his Adoration Ministry. He had openly heckled Mr Obi during a launch event where he demanded the presidential running-mate to make financial pledges for execution of projects.

Peter Obi had declined to make public pledges, triggering a heist of open campaign of calumny from Mbaka who had, as traditional, switched sides to President Buhari’s APC team.

Just recently, Fr Mbaka reportedly continued heckling Mr Obi who has just won the ticket of the Labour Party for the 2023 presidential polls. His comments is seen as dousing Mr Obi’s surging popularity among the youths, and also at a time merger is being contemplated between Mr Obi’s Labour Party and  Alhaji Kwankwaso’s New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP).

The latest attack from Fr Mbaka has since sparked a spate of public condemnation even from Moslems and strong backlash on him, his Adoration Ministry and the Catholic Church.

In responding to the torrents of public condemnation of his taunting of Mr Peter Obi, the catholic priest who had once had clashes with former Governor Chimaroke Nnamani of Enugu State offered weak and seemingly persuaded apology to the presidential hopeful who is also a staunch member of the Catholic Church.