The All
Progressives Congress (APC), on Sunday, condemned the decision by the
leadership of the Catholic Church, Enugu Parish to transfer the fire-brand
cleric, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka from Christ the King Parish, Government Reserved
Area, GRA, of the state to Our Lady Parish, Emene, a suburb of the state.
REV. FR. MBAKA |
The fiery
priest and Spiritual Director of the Adoration Ministry has presided over
Christ the King Parish for 20 years but is expected to servd under another
priest at the Emene Parish.
Spokesperson
of the APC South-East Caucus, Osita Okechukwu, “It was wrong to punish the
fearless priest for his prophecies which has proved to be from God.”
Okechukwu
while expressing concern over Mbaka’s safety alleged that the transfer was
influenced by outside forces, adding that worshippers may find it difficult to
get to Emene for programmes of the Adoration Ministry.
He said,
“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 transfers 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.”
Okechukwu,
while stating that the priest has been under attack from President Muhammadu
Buhari’s opponent since he prophesied that the President will win the last
election, noted that the party was in solidarity with the priest and condemn
all attacks on him.
He
alleged that the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo influenced Mbaka’s transfer to a
new parish where he will serve under someone else.
OSITA OKECHUKWU |
Okechukwu
said, “As a party, we have watched with concern and trepidation the criticism,
attack, assault and unpleasant comments hurled at 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, doubt still
persists.
“For we
are still at a loss why a senior priest will be demoted 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,” he said. (VANGUARD)
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