The Spiritual Director, Adoration Ministry Enugu Nigeria, Rev. Fr. Camillus Anthony Ejike Mbaka who has come under heavy tongue-lashes over what is perceived as abuses and rain of curses on the presidential candidate of Labour Party for 2023 elections, Mr Peter Obi, has retracted his statement, revised the curses and apologized.
In a press statement personally signed by Father Mbaka, he pleased for Peter Obi’s forgiveness while withdrawing all his unguided outburst.
The press statement reads “I am grateful to God for His unquantifiable and favorable blessings, miracles, love and life for the Adoration Ministry, Enugu, Nigeria”.
“I assure the people of God and Nigerians that I am praying for Good Governance and Good Leadership in this country and that God will give us leaders after His own Heart”.
“As it stands right now, it is obvious that Nigeria is passing through an indescribable insecurity, inestimable unemployment, massive corruption, heinous crimes and unbearable suffering engendered by bad leadership”.
“I bear with my fellow country men and women in whatever we are passing through in this trying time. I call on the adorers and the entire people of God to join hands in praying that God will deliver us from the plans of the devil and its wicked agents.
I am a servant of God and my intention is not to malign His Excellency, Peter Obi’s image, but to pray for him. May God’s will be done in his life. I pray to God whom I serve to give our beloved people good and excellent leaders who will take care of them and lead them to the Promised Land. Anyone who God wishes to make our Leader is my choice. In this vein, I give my blessings to the supporters of His Excellency Peter Obi. In any way they feel offended by my utterances or however I was misunderstood by them, I ask for their understanding and forgiveness. As a servant of the Most High God, I pray that it shall be well with my people. I am an ardent supporter of good governance, justice, equity, love and godliness.
“At this time our people are passing through the valleys of shadows of death (Ps23.4), I pray for peace , love and anything that will bring blessings and favour to our people and to our suffering teaming youths. I will always stand with you in all your ordeals. God will take care of you and bless you miraculously for me.
“My intention is not to fight or malign Mr Obi. May God bless him and his good supporters! God’s will be done in his political endeavors (Mk.14:36). The followers of Peter Obi are the same youths I am praying for, sacrificing for, fighting for, speaking for and working for their integral well-being. What the youths are passing through and their conditions give me sleepless nights. It is for this reason that I yearn for good governance and worthy leaders that will take care of them. We are passing through indescribable, unbearable and undeserved hardship in this country.
I pray for Divine intervention.
“I am not in any political party but I support good people and good governance. Any good person that God can give us is my choice candidate. I am a servant of God; For the sake of peace, I ask for forgiveness in any way I am misunderstood. And to Peter Obi himself, I ask God to bless him and manifest his will in his life. When God says Yes, who can say No? And when God says No, who can say Yes? I bless Peter Obi and pray for him. I bless my dear fellow Adorers and pray for them. I bless the people of God everywhere and I pray that it shall be well with you all,” he concluded.
The Catholic church in Enugu had earlier disowned him over his verbal attack.
Mbaka has been trending in the social media over his comments that Peter Obi is stingy that he would not win the election. He said many abusive things about Peter which drew public anger on him in the social media.
Mbaka also claimed that he with others he mentioned, helped to restore Obi to power when he was impeached and expressed anger that the former governor did not reward him.
He said that the apology he earlier tendered to Peter Obi was not out of his volition but under duress from his Bishop.
Reacting to this the Catholic Diocese of Enugu disassociated itself from Mbaka’s utterances.
A statement signed by the Auxiliary Bishop of Enugu Most Rev Ernest Anezichukwu Obodo, the Chancellor/ Secretary, Rev Fr Wlifred Chidi Agubuchie and Vicar General, Very Rev Fr, Geoffrey Aguigwo and send to pressmen in Enugu said the action of Mbaka was contrary to canon 220 of the 1983 Code of Canon Law which prohibits anyone from illegitimately harming the good name of a person.
“The attention of the Diocesan Bishop, Most Rev. Callistus V.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 of 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.
“The Catholic Diocese of Enugu hereby condemns and dissociates herself from such unbecoming and divisive utterances from Fr. Mbaka. 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.”
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