*As Arewa, Christian Youths demand closure of Adoration Ministry 

The Catholic Diocese of Enugu has distanced the presbytery from what they described as “unbecoming and divisive utterances” of the spiritual Director of Adoration Ministry Enugu Nigeria, Rev. Fr. Camillus Ejike Mbaka.

This is even as a group of Northern youths under the agies, Arewa Youths and the National Christian Youth Organisation of Nigeria (CYON), has demanded the suspension of Fr. Mbaka and the closure of the Adorati9n Ministry.

Fr. Mbaka had during a message delivered last Wednesday during his Adoration Ministry worship, lampooned the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, saying that he stingy and will not win the election.

Mbaka had last year during the annual Bazzar of the Ministry, equally called Obi all sorts of derogatory names, because Obi, who was at the service, said he would want to be briefed on the project of the Adoration ground to enable him know how he can assist them.

But rather than take such as the hallmark of a disciplined man, Fr. Mbaka called him all sorts of derogatory names, saying he was stingy unlike some other politicians who pledged donations without asking questions. 

Fr. Mbaka had last Wednesday, during his adoration said Obi is very “wicked and stingy”, adding that if he becomes president, hunger will kill Nigerians.

But in a statement signed by Most Rev. Ernest Anezichukwu Obodo, the Auxiliary Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Enugu; Very Rev. Fr. Wilfred Chidi Agubuchie, Chancery/Secretaryand Very Rev. Fr. Geoffrey Aguigwo,  the  Vicar General, the Diocese stated that Fr. Mbaka had violated the rules of Canon Law which guide them.

They stated emphatically that Mbaka’s utterances is “contrary to canon 220 of the 1983 Code of Canon Law which prohibits anyone from illegitimately harming the good name of a person.”

The church notified the We notify the general public that “Fr. Mbaka’s views on the matter are entirely personal to him and do not represent the position of the Catholic Diocese of Enugu.”

They also urged Mbaka to “refrain from making further provocative prophecies or utterances capable of heating up the polity,” adding that “Catholic Diocese of Enugu is taking the due canonical process.”

The complete statement reads:

The attention of the Diocesan Bishop, Most Rev. CallistusV.C. Onaga, and the Catholic
Diocese of Enugu has been drawn to the inflammatory political utterances by Rev. Fr. Camillus Ejike Mbaka, the Director of Catholic Adoration Ministry Chaplaincy Enugu, on Wednesday, 15 June 2022 during his Wednesday Adoration Programme. Fr. Mbaka during his preaching attacked the good reputation ot Mr. Peter Obi, the Labour Party Presidential Candidate, describing him as “a stingy man’” and as “a joker”, contrary to canon 220 of the 1983 Code of Canon Law which prohibits anyone from illegitimately harming the good name of a person. He also made fun of the Labour Party and vowed that Mr. Obi could not be the president of Nigeria. This is a clear violation of the provisions of canon 287 $2 which forbids priests from engaging in partisan politics.

*Arewa, Christian Youths demand closure of Adoration Ministry 

Meanwhile, the Arewa Youths who took to the social media, asked Fr. Mbaka to immediately apologise or face their wrath.

They described Mbaka as a greedy priest who has severally sesecreated the Alter of God dishing out personal vendetta, propelled by greed and masquerading same as prophesy revealed by God.

On the other hand, the CYON asked Bishop Callistus Onaga, the Catholic Bishop of Enugu, to place Fr. Mbaka on suspension or expect “a tsunami of protest from us”.

They expressed disgust at Fr. Mbaka for always chosing to insult Mr. Obi at the slightest opportunity, asking him to make public whatever Obi did to him that has been amking him forget his ministry for mundane issues.