Catholic Priest condemns Mbaka’s suspension, declares 7-day fasting, prayers

… Mbaka apologises to bishop

A CATHOLIC Priest of Abakaliki Diocese, Benjamin Chukwuma Agbo has condemned the suspension of  Rev. Fr. Camilus Ejike Mbaka, the Spiritual Director of Adoration Ministry of Enugu Nigeria (AMEN), by the Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Callistus Onaga and declared seven days fasting and prayer to seek God’s intervention.

   He stated this while on rural evangelism at Holy Spirit Zone – the Zone 3 of Holy Spirit in Action Ministry, Abakaliki (HAMA), in Ochakwu Ishieke in Ebonyi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

  He said that suspending Fr Mbaka from discharging his church activities for 30 days should not be considered as the best option by the leaders of the Catholic Church.

  The HAMA’s Spiritual Director called on Christians all over the world to rise in prayers to defend the flocks of God and their true shepherds.

  Rev. Fr. Agbo expressed worry over Mbaka’s suspension, stressing that the Catholic Church may not understand the negative implications to the society.

  According to him, “if the Catholic Church of Enugu Diocese succeeded suspending Fr Mbaka for a whole 30 days, have they considered the situation of his flocks?

  “The masses under Mbaka’s care, especially the indigent persons, the less privileged ones – the orphans, widows, the sick and many people seeking assistance from him, both spiritually and otherwise, who will be taking care of them now?

  “Catholic Church shouldn’t consider the suspension of Father Mbaka as the best way to go in punishing him, for whatever may be the case.

  “What is the sin of Father Mbaka to attract a whole month suspension from being active in Church services?

  “The man of God who speaks up on the critical state of the nation and listening to his speech, it is certain that Mbaka has said the truth. This is quite unfortunate, and it is very important that Christians rise in prayers to defend this man of God.

  “Let the church rethink and adopt diplomacy to address issues connected with priests and other shepherds of God.”

  Fr Agbo urged Enugu Diocese to be proud of having a charismatic priest like Mbaka, adding that, if the state is no longer comfortable with him, let him be sent to Ebonyi State.

  He however, declared a 7-day fasting and prayer, asking God’s protection, strength and wisdom upon him to win the tempting period.

  He charged Christians to pray against forces of darkness plugging crisis in the church and expressed optimism that Mbaka would not compromise on spreading gospels charismatically after his present ordeals doused off.

  He noted that a collective prayer of the church for the man of God, would go a long way to fast track his freedom to discharge his duties as a minister of God.

  “This is a time to pray for Fr Mbaka. We shouldn’t fold our hands, watching forces of darkness to take over the temple of God.  If you read Acts of Apostle 12, verse 1 to 6, you will understand that Peter was arrested and put into prison by Herod just because he was preaching the truth, but the Christians didn’t compromise. They rose in their prayers and without delay, God answered them by sending his Angel who untied Peter and sent him out of the prison freely.

  “We must pray for Fr Mbaka; the same way, he will be sent free. Mbaka’s verbal utterances are not the problems of Nigeria, or the church.

  “Psalms 105 verse 15, says “touch not my anointed and do my prophet no harm.” How can a carnal man understand what a great prophet like Mbaka, who is mediator between God and human? Don’t touch the anointed man of God,” he warned.

  He added, “Mbaka is obviously known to have become the strength and an instrument to all other ordained ministers of Christendom not only in Catholic Church but all pentecostal, orthodox homes of God (Church).

  “Why must the church see negative side of Mbaka only, and forget his positive contributions to humanity.”

  Meanwhile, Rev Fr Ejike Mbaka, on Sunday, apologised to the Catholic Church and Catholic Bishop of Enugu, Most. Rev. Dr. C.V.C Onaga over the vandalisation of the bishop’s court by adoration faithful.

  Fr Mbaka made the apology during a Sunday Mass he was officiating at Adoration Ground in Enugu.

  He said “I do not disobey the church, who am I? How can someone who has been serving the church for nearly 26 years come out and begin to fight the same church? Everything in my life is for the church”.

  “I, Fr Mbaka standing here, I am a child of the Holy Mother Church, and all the faithful are also children of the same mother church.

  “I am a baby of the church and an ordained Holy Roman Catholic that is apostolic, universal. I stand here to tell you that nothing can destroy the church. I speak as a messenger of God and a mere servant.

  Fr Mbaka reaffirmed his loyalty to the church and Bishop.

“Please, I have to clarify this, Fr Mbaka has no problem with the Church and I do not have any problem with my bishop. Enemies want to achieve that by causing discord, but I will not allow it because, there is something in me that will conquer such problems.

  “That thing is the gift of humility and obedience to the church, to the glory of God. I do not want to tell negative stories about what happened because the incident now belongs to the past.

  “When the protest continued to gather more momentum that day, I was asked by my bishop to come and take away the protesters to avoid the situation getting out of hand.

  “You know the issue attracted media hype; Fr Mbaka is missing, Mbaka has been kidnapped and all that. But I was never kidnapped. I was at a place that my bishop asked me to proceed for personal prayer.

  “I almost had a terrible accident when I was hurrying to the Bishop’s Court after I was asked to come and calm the restive crowd of protesters.

  “I asked the bishop (on phone), shall I move to the Adoration Ground? He said yes. And I asked what about the Sunday Mass, he said tell them you will celebrate it with them. I answered, yes my Lord and proceeded.

  “As we were moving through New Haven, I got another call that I should rush to Holy Ghost Cathedral, that another mammoth crowd had entered the cathedral premises and threatening to wreck havoc there if I did not appear to address them in person.

  “I never knew that any damage was caused in bishop’s house. “When I got to the OSISATECH (Poly) Roundabout, I saw a thick crowd. I then came out and waved at them. Immediately they saw me, they started following me back.

  “I didn’t enter the cathedral. I never knew that even a glass was broken. “What I was praising those that trooped out that day was not about anything that was destroyed but for their ability to search for your missing pastor.

  “And I beg you, whenever any priest goes missing, please, look for him. If any of our priests is kidnapped, you should not rest! Whether it happened in Onitsha, Aba, Nnewi, even in Maiduguri or Yoruba land, search for him. This is because we share one priesthood of Christ Jesus.

  “If I hear that my bishop is missing, for instance, I will do everything possible, by the grace of God to find him. “I am taking my time to explain things because there were a lot of misinformation and the devil entered into the story.

  “The church did not kidnap me. “So, I wish to apologise to whoever that misunderstood my statement. I didn’t clap for anybody for destroying anything.

  “Again, I praise you people (supporters) for protecting the Sanctissimus; the Blessed Sacrament was not tampered with. And God will bless you because I heard that the ‘Search for Fr Mbaka’ was high jacked.

  “I heard that some people joined up and started breaking things, and that virtuall,y people of all tribes, Christians and non-Christians as well as Catholics and non-Catholics joined in the search”.