Catholic Church Leadership Detained Me For Criticising Buhari – Mbaka

• “How can they believe what others say, and they will not believe what the priest is saying?”

Ejike Mbaka, spiritual director of Adoration Ministry Enugu, Nigeria (AMEN), says his recent scathing comments on state of nation put him on a collision course with the leadership of the Catholic diocese in his state.

Ekohotblog had reported that there was palpable apprehension in Enugu on Wednesday after news filter through that the vociferous priest had gone missing, a situation that led protests by residents of the state.

However, Mbaka resurfaced hours later, dousing the already tensed atmosphere in the state.

Speaking while addressing worshippers at the adoration ground in Enugu on Wednesday, Mbaka said the hierarchy of catholic church in the state planned to close down his ministry for one month.

Mbaka said the church leadership, led by Calistus Onaga, summoned him over his recent comments concerning Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), and his relationship with the presidency.

Recall that Mbaka had asked President Muhammadu Buhari to resign because “God is angry with him”.

Reacting to Mbaka’s comment, Garba Shehu, presidential spokesman, had said the priest was attacking the president because he did get favour from the government.

He accused the priest of soliciting contracts from the federal government.

However, in response, Mbaka admitted that he discussed contracts with Buhari, but lamented that the president didn’t reward him or his ministry, despite supporting the presidency.

In a recent sermon, Mbaka had also said God will bless Kanu for his courage, because the rising insecurity in the country is “mind-blowing”.

“Wherever he is, may God bless him; because if someone has risen up to shout that his brothers are suffering, is it a crime?” Mbaka had said.

Read Also: BREAKING: Jubilation As Father Mbaka Returns To Enugu

Speaking on his meeting with the Catholic bishop in Enugu, Mbaka said the church leadership told him he would remain indoors for a period of one month to enable him pray and meditate over his activities.

The catholic priest said he asked for an opportunity to address his parishioners but was not allowed.

“How can they believe what others say, and they will not believe what the priest is saying? The emphasis is ‘please, let me go to celebrate the mass’, but they said ‘no’. If a priest will request to celebrate mass and they say ‘no’, that means something is wrong,” he said.

He then added in Igbo that the church wanted him to leave his ministry for one month, but he refused, adding that he was released because of the protest.