The face-off between the Catholic Diocese of Enugu and the Spiritual Director of Adoration Ministry, Rev. Father Ejike Mbaka deepens as followers of the priest on Monday protested the clampdown on the activities of his church ministry.
At the centre of the latest crisis in Enugu Catholic Church is a recent political outburst by Rev. Father Mbaka on the person of former Anambra State Governor and Presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP) Peter Obi.
Fr. Mbaka at one of his regular weekly religious programmes in Enugu allegedly cast aspersions on Obi, describing him as a “stingy man”.
Mbaka’s comment had immediately provoked a backlash with religious, social and political commentators condemning his utterances.
The Catholic Church in Enugu which has been in several running battles in the past with Fr. Mbaka over his political comments and other activities at the Adoration Ministry descended heavily on him this time banning all of his activities.
Bishop Calistus Onaga in a Pastoral Injunction dated 17th June, 2022 slammed the ban on Catholic faithful, forbidding them to attend and participate in the activities of the Adoration Ministry presided over by Fr. Ejike Mbaka.
The decision has angered many of Mbaka’s followers who on Sunday stormed the Adoration ground to protest the directives.
A video that cannot be independently verified by AIT showed followers of Mbaka violently waving leaves at the Adoration ground and chanting uncomplimentary slogans against the leadership of the Enugu Catholic Diocese.
Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka and his Adoration Ministry are not new to administrative faceoff with the leadership of Enugu Catholic Diocese often induced by controversial political comments from him.
Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka has been in the eyes of the public occasioned by outbursts that have put him and the Adoration Ministry in constant conflict with the parent Catholic church since the last General elections in 2015.
Editor, Omor Bazuaye
