The fiery Catholic Priest in Enugu, Rev Fr. Ejike Mbaka has condemned the recent agitations and protests for Biafra nation describing the action as `evil.’
Mbaka made the condemnation in Enugu on Saturday in a sermon at his weekly Adoration Ministry.
The cleric urged youths in the South East and South-South to go back to their business as the protest could lead to their death.
“Locking up your shops and disrupting economic activities will not add any naira to your pocket, whatever grievance you have could be resolved through dialogue,’’ the cleric said.
He lambasted those leaders behind the agitations and protests, saying that they should use their children for the struggle.
Mbaka commended President Muhammadu Buhari for appointing ministers from the zone and assigning them with good portfolios.
“President Buhari’s action has proved that the South East has not been marginalized. I would have reacted if no minister emerged from the zone,’’ he said.
He said that the five states in the zone had a minister each as prescribed by the Nigerian Constitution as well as other key security and protocol officers that serve under the President and his wife.
The reverend father attributed the recent free health screening initiative by the Wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari, in Enugu to her love for the people of the region.
He blamed the Igbo leaders for not living up to the expectation of the people in the area, adding that past governors, National Assembly members failed woefully in discharging their mandates.
“President Buhari is not the cause of poor roads, unemployment and other decayed infrastructures in the south east, we should blame our leaders.
“Most of the roads had been awarded but our leaders squandered the fund, even the university teaching hospital in Enugu is a no-go-area and our leaders are not concerned about it,” he said.
Mbaka called on the new Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, to use his office to employ youths in the zone, adding that it would stop what he called another Boko Haram in the south east if not curtailed.
He praised Buhari’s war against corruption, saying it had enthroned due process and sanity in governance.
The cleric, however, urged Nigerians to be patient with the President as he has good programmes for the rapid advancement of the country.
IPOB fires back at Mbaka, says Biafra is more than money
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has reacted to the wrekend’s comment credited to Enugu-based fire-brand Catholic priest, Rev Father Ejike Mbaka, where he called on the pro-Biafran youths protesting for the immediate release of Radio Biafra Director and Leader of IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, to go back to their businesses as the protests could lead to their death.

During a sermon at his weekly Adoration Ministry, Mbaka criticised Biafra supporters who embarked on the massive protests across South-East and South-South states, to demand Kanu’s immediate release.
Kanu is still being held in detention by the Department of State Services, despite having been granted bail by the court.
Mbaka had said: “Locking up your shops and disrupting economic activities will not add any naira to your pocket, whatever grievance you have could be resolved through dialogue,.”
However, responding to Mbaka, in a broadcast on Biafra Radio, IPOB denounced him as a compromised priest speaking from both sides of his mouth.
Deputy Leader of IPOB, Uche Mefor, who fired back at the cleric, stressed that “Biafra is more than money!”
Mefor noted that the youths are protesting against injustice, oppression and subjugation, which is motivating them to seek their freedom.
The deputy leader further wondered why Mbaka who is a priest could not find courage to condemn Nigeria government’s extrajudicial detention of Kanu.
He also advised the priest to refute his statement immediately if he was misquoted.
According to Mefor, Biafran youths have seen the truth having been enlightened on the need to restore Biafra, and nothing can stop them from demanding their rights.
Meanwhile, the lawyer of Nnamdi Kanu, Egechukwu Obetta, has made a statement, in which he listed his next steps.
According to Obetta, they comprise hosting “a meeting of representatives of all non-governmental organizations in Nigeria, as well as the petitioning the Chief Justice of Nigeria, the National Human Rights Commission, the National Assembly and the Nigerian Bar Association.”
MASSOB blasts Fr. Mbaka over Pro-Biafra agitation
A faction of the Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), weekend lashed out at Enugu Catholic Priest, Rev.Fr. Ejike Mbaka describing his comment on the struggle for Biafra as insensitive and unguided.
Fr. Mbaka had during last Saturday sermon at his Adoration Ministry condemned the recent agitation and protests for Biafra nation describing the action as `evil.’
At the same time, All Progressive Congress (APC) South-East geopolitical zone, appealed to MASSOB and similar groups to stop their war-drum, as it could scuttle the quest for Nigeria president of Igbo extraction in 2023.
Apparently infuriated at the fiery clergyman’s comment, Director of Information of MASSOB, Mr. Uchenna Madu regretted that Fr. Mbaka’s condemnation of Biafra struggle is “selfish and shameful. How can a revered Igbo clergyman descend so low in making such a condemnable statement few days after President’s Buhari’s wife visited him.
“Mr President should be aware that no money given to Mbaka, persuasion, personal friendship with him can ever frustrate or diminish the rising status, consciousness and global reawakening/acceptance of Biafra. A man who speaks with both sides of the mouth at a time is a hypocrite and is not worth to be trusted. The Igbo Christians, Catholics and even the Pope will prove Mbaka wrong. Many Igbo clergymen including the Catholic priests are not in support of Mbaka’s government-paid anti-Biafran comment.
“This why the Igbo youth and other citizens have lost confidence/trust in many Igbo leaders in Nigeria. Biafra agitators are more determined to sacrifice our shops, businesses, jobs, comfort and even the supreme price for the sake of our freedom. Mbaka should be aware that even during our peaceful/non-violence demonstrations, the agitators, sympathizers and Biafrans patronized his products including his sachet water and yoghurts. Mbaka’s business boomed as the protests lasted.”
APC advises protesters
Meantime, Spokesman of South-East APC, Mr.Osita Okechukwu has noted that whereas we agree that there is gross unemployment, discontent and despondency among youths in the land; however it is not peculiar to the South East alone.
“The gross unemployment is nationwide and would be addressed holistically, luckily our son distinguished Senator Chris Ngige is the Minister in charge of employment. Pro-Biafra agitators should stop their mass action and drums of war in the overall interest of the Ndigbo at home, across the country and abroad. As our record shows that it’s better to jaw-jaw than to war-war. Dialogue is the best solution, albeit we are doing relatively well across the country and our human development index is one of the highest.
“Ndigbo must be strategic in our agitation, as every evidence suggests that we would be one of the greatest beneficiaries of the progressive and prosperous Nigeria being constructed by President Muhammadu Buhari.
“We cannot act like the rodent inside the deep hole for years, only to revolt when it was about to be freed. Methinks that this is not the best of times to hype and escalate the agitation for Biafra, because President Buhari has pledged to resuscitate the dilapidated federal roads in the South East, revamp Enugu Coal, fix 2nd Niger Bridge and other physical infrastructure.
“For Mr. President his word is his bond. Critical analysis posits that after his 2nd tenure, it will be the turn of the South East to produce Nigerian President of Igbo extraction.”
-Vanguard
