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Members of Adoration Ministry Enugu, Nigeria (AMEN), owned by Father Ejike Mbaka have demanded the removal of the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Enugu, Bishop Callistus Onaga.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that the members stormed the ministry’s ground in protest on Sunday, after the Diocese barred Catholics from worshipping at AMEN, following recent public utterances of Father Mbaka.
During the protest, some worshippers who went to the ministry in Enugu, some of the members who are fervent supporters of Mbaka were seen carrying tree leaves and branches chanting, “Onaga Must Go,” and “No More Onaga”.
Protests erupted at Father Mbaka’s Adoration Ministry today, as members demanded the sacking of the Catholic Bishop of Enugu diocese, for daring to suspend the controversial ministry.
Religion (the opium of the masses), can as well be a tool of manipulation of the poor.
Watch. pic.twitter.com/S3bCERBebM— Olaudah Equiano® (@RealOlaudah) June 19, 2022
Recall that Onaga had banned Catholics including the clergy from attending Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka’s Adoration Ministry over his recent utterances in the ministry.
Onaga banned them from having anything to do with the Adoration Ministry.
A letter to the effect reads: “In the light of the happenings in the Catholic Adoration Ministry Chaplaincy Enugu, capable of undermining the Catholic faith and teachings and after several fraternal corrections and admonitions to Fr. Ejike Mbaka, the Chaplain of the Ministry.
“Having given him pastoral directives and guidelines for the Ministry Chaplaincy, which he persistently violated.
“In fulfilment of my pastoral duties as the Chief Shepherd with the obligation to promote and safeguard the Catholic faith and morals in Enugu Diocese, I hereby prohibit all Catholics (clergy, religious and lay faithful) henceforth from attending all religious and liturgical activities of the Catholic Adoration Ministry until the due canonical process initiated by the Diocese is concluded.
“My decision is based on the fact that some of the teachings and utterances of Fr. Mbaka at the Catholic Adoration Ministry are not consistent with the teachings and faith of the Catholic Church”.
He, however, enjoined “all Christian faithful to keep praying for Fr. Mbaka.”
This came barely hours after Mbaka had apologised to Mr Peter Obi, the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party for 2023 general election.
Recall that the priest had during one of adoration programme few days ago declared that Obi, who he described as “a stingy man”, would never rule Nigeria.
He had said that until Obi came and knelt before the adoration alter that his presidential ambitions would be in vain.
The outburst did not go down well with many Nigerians especially the youths who had fallen in love Obi’s candidature as they recommended appropriate sanctions be given to him.
Mbaka’s comment had set social media on fire as many had condemned it.
Recalled that this was not the first time Fr. Mbaka is facing sanctions from the Enugu Catholic Diocese over political comments.
The Diocesan authority had last year, after placing his activities on hold for a month, also converted the adoration ministry to chaplaincy and he was then asked to keep off politics.
But Mbaka who always speaks on issues during his programmes on adoration ground had reacted the no to the changes that no one would stop him from speaking.
“Those who think Mbaka will be quiet, you are wasting your time,” he had said last year in reaction to the ban placed on him from commenting on political activities,” he had said.