Once again, devotees of the controversial Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, on Sunday, took to the streets of Umuchigbo in Enugu metropolis to protest the ban on the Adoration Ministry headed by the priest. This is yet another act of disobedience by Mbaka devotees and a frontal challenge on the authority of the Catholic hierarchy in Enugu State.
The Bishop of Enugu Catholic Diocese, Most. Rev. Callistus Onaga, on Saturday banned all priests and Catholic faithful from attending Mbaka’s Adoration Ministry following the priest’s scathing remarks on Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
Mbaka on Wednesday at his Adoration grounds said Obi would never be the President because he is a stingy man, adding that the politician is cursed.
The priest’s remarks drew heavy criticisms from various quarters, prompting the under fire priest to backtrack and apologise for maligning Obi and injuring his supporters.
But despite his apology, Bishop Onaga prohibited the Catholic faithful from attending his Adoration until the due canonical process initiated by the Diocese is concluded.
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Bishop Onaga explained that the decision was based on the fact that 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
However, less than 24 hours after the ban on Mbaka’s Adoration, his 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.
The latest action of Mbaka’s devotees is yet another chapter in the battle of wits between Mbaka and the Catholic hierarchy in Enugu that have been blamed for being too soft on him despite his many transgressions that have brought the Catholic Church into disrepute.
To curtail Mbaka’s excesses, the Catholic Church in June 2021 banned him from commenting on partisan politics.
The ban came after the controversy surrounding his disappearance and appearance last year, which also led to the shutdown of his Adoration Ministry.
Bishop Onaga, who handed down the ban also announced the conversion of the Adoration Ministry to a ‘chaplaincy.’
The implication being that the ministry was supposed to be under the supervision of the diocese.
But Mbaka had always acted above the Canon Law.
