From Petrus Obi, Enugu
ALL Progressives Congress (APC) has expressed reservations over the transfer of Enugu fiery Catholic priest, and Director of Adoration Ministry Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, saying there is more to it than matches the routine transfer of priests.
Reacting to Mbaka’s farewell speech where he said he was going to suffer as a result of the transfer, the party said it was wrong to punish the fearless priest for his prophecies, which has proved to be from God.
“Our people need more liberation clergy, especially ones endowed with healing powers like Mbaka. The liberation clergy were instrumental in returning Latin American countries back to democracy in the ’70s and ’80s. They pulled down Pinochet in Chile and toppled dictators across the globe. We should harvest and culture them instead of hounding them.”
In a statement signed by the APC South-East Caucus spokesman, Mr. Osita Okechukwu, the party also added that, “whereas we accept that the transfer of priests is a routine exercise of the great Catholic Church; however, we do not wholly accept a situation where the church allows external forces to influence transfers as the Mbaka’s case suggests. Otherwise, future liberation clergy who speak truth to power will be hamstrung to the detriment of the society.”
Last month, Mbaka was transferred out of Christ The King Parish in Enugu to a new duty post at Our Lady Parish, Umuchigbo, Njinike, also within the state.
Mbaka, who said his posting was a witch-hunt, told members of the congregation: “I know we are going to suffer between now and a few months to come. I am going to suffer and suffer. I know that. I’m going to suffer because I have no place to put my head. I am going to suffer because I have no place to keep the Adoration Ministry’s assets. The Adoration Ministry is passing through suffering right now and even though I’ve accepted that is the will of God. Is the will of God through suffering? It is a mega suffering. The quantum of the assets of the Adoration Ministry is the only thing I am bothered about for now.”Rev Mbaka generated controversies when he was reported to have prophesied that former president Goodluck Jonathan would lose the 2015 presidential elections.
A few weeks before his transfer, he paid a courtesy call to President Muhammadu Buhari, who commended him for his courage and support for his administration.