Politics: Father Mbaka's Transfer, APC Reacts

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has reacted to reports that controversial cleric, Reverend Father Ejike Mbaka has been transferred by the leadership of the Catholic Church in Enugu.

The Enugu Parish leadership had reportedly transferred the fire-brand cleric from Christ the King Parish in the Government Reserved Area (GRA) of the state to Our Lady Parish, Emene, a suburb of the state and he had immediately cried out over the latest development.

Mbaka who is more prominent for his prophecies against the immediate past president of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan, had been in the now former parish for 20 years and is now required to work under a new priest at the Emene Parish.

But Vanguard reports that the spokesperson of the APC in the Southeast, Osita Okechukwu, has condemned the new move.

He said: “It was wrong to punish the fearless priest for his prophecies which has proved to be from God.”

While also expressing concern over Mbaka’s safety, the APC chieftain alleged that the transfer was influenced by outside forces, adding that worshippers may find it difficult to get to Emene for programmes of the Adoration Ministry.

“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.

“Our major concern is the security implications and the fate of his flocks who are mostly the downtrodden who may find it difficult to go to Emene for salvation and healing.

“We frown at anything which will put Fr. Mbaka in harms way or deny his flocks healing.”

“As a party, we have watched with concern and trepidation the criticism, attack, assault and unpleasant comments hurled at Fr. Mbaka since he providentially prophesied that President Buhari would win the 2015 elections.

“Even the Church did not spare him, he was called unprintable names, yet his prophecy came true. We are happy that Fr. Mbaka was vindicated.

“It must be pointed out that accusing fingers were pointed at the direction of some anti-Buhari elements like Ohanaeze Ndigbo, a group that didn’t want to hear the name of Buhari – even though Ohanaeze denied the allegation, doubt still persists.

“For we are still at a loss why a senior priest will be demoted to an assistant parish priest.

“We repeat that we are in solidarity with Fr. Mbaka and our major concern is the security of Fr. Mbaka and the suffering of his flocks, mostly the poor who need his healing powers.

“We had thought that His Lordship Bishop Calistus Onaga could have retained him at the Adoration Ground, as the Bishop Emeritus Gbuji did because of security of his life and easy access by his flocks,” he was quoted to have said.