“We received with obedience the directive issued by my Bishop, His Excellency, Most Rev CVV Onaga on June 17, 2022,” Mbaka says
Catholic Priest and Spiritual Director of the Adoration Ministry Enugu Nigeria (AMEN), Reverend Father Ejike Mbaka, has dissociated himself from yesterday’s protest against the directive of the Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Calistus Onaga, ordering the closure of the church.
Recall that Mbaka described the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi as stingy, a comment that earned him the hammer of Bishop Onaga who directed all Catholic faithful to avoid the adoration ministry.
The Bishop’s order was greeted with protest by followers of Mbaka, who chanted solidarity slogans in support of Mbaka.
READ ALSO
Adoration Centres not for extortion, says Archbishop Kaigama
But in a statement, Mbaka washed his hands off the protests mounted by his followers
Mbaka, who made his position known in a statement he personally signed Monday morning, a day after the protest, said he was neither aware of the protest nor supported it.
He wrote: “My attention has been drawn to activities that took place in the Adoration ground on Sunday. I am not in any way involved in such activity. We received with obedience the directive issued by my Bishop, His Excellency, Most Rev CVV Onaga on June 17, 2022
“May I, therefore, appeal to the faithful, in particular members of Adoration Ministry Enugu, Nigeria, to remain calm and united with the body of Christ in the Diocese and also refrain from any measure of violence either in action or by abusive utterances.
“Those who take to attacking or insulting my dear Bishop should desist from such. The Bishop is the Shepherd of the Church in the Diocese and we remain his flock who in every way and at all times is expected to be respectful, obedient and willing to respond favourably to his apostolic directives.
“May I also remind you that all Adoration activities have been suspended till further notice.
“Adoration Ministry is ever submissive to the mother Church. I enjoin all adorers to know this and remain constantly in prayers for the manifestation of the will of God in the life of the Ministry.”