The Enugu Catholic Diocese has denied trending stories that controversial Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka has been removed as Spiritual Director of Adoration Ministry, Enugu.
Expressing love for Fr. Mbaka as an “illustrious son”, the Diocese said the priest was only asked to take time away in solitude to listen to what the Spirit of God has to tell him.
Only a few days ago, the church leadership lifted a three-month ban on the ministry, having banned Catholic members from attending activities there.
The ban followed Fr. Mbaka’s scathing remarks against Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi.
During his weekly-service last June, Fr. Mbaka said Obi would not be president of Nigeria in 2023 because he is a stingy man.
He said unless Obi returned to his Adoration Ministry to apologise for refusing to donate to the centre when he was asked to do so, his ambition to become president of Nigeria would be fruitless.
Many Nigerians, including the Diocese, criticised Fr. Mbaka over his comment.
He has since apologised to Obi.
But the Director of Communications of Enugu Catholic Diocese, Rev. Fr. Benjamin Achi told The Nation on Monday that Fr. Mbaka would return to continue his duties.
He referred the reporter to a viral interview he granted to the National Director of Social Communications, Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Padre Mike Nsikak Umoh.
In the interview, Fr. Achi said that, following the proposal for solitude, Fr. Mbaka was allowed to propose a priest to administer to the faithful at the Adoration Ministry, in the interim.
He added that with the approval of Diocese Bishop Callistus Onaga, Fr. Mbaka introduced Fr. Anthony Amadi to the worshippers on Sunday to take charge while he would be away.
That did not go down well with some of the faithful, who insisted that Fr. Mbaka must remain.
According to the interview, Fr. Achi admonished: “What every true Christian, and especially every true Catholic, should do at this moment is to commit our dear brother and priest, Fr. Mbaka, to God in prayer so that he may, through this moment, encounter God specially, come out stronger and better in recognising His will for him and gain more graces to channel those rare gifts for His glory and for the sanctification of the people of God and society at large.
“The Church loves Fr. Mbaka and cherishes him as an illustrious son”.
