Rev Fr Ejike Mbaka has dissociated himself from the protest that took places on on the Adoration Ground on Sunday after the ban imposed by Bishop Onaga, the Bishop of Enugu Diocese.
Bishop Onaga had banned Catholic faithful from attending all religious and liturgical activities of the Adoration Ministry until the due canonical process initiated by the Diocese is concluded following Mbaka’s “stingy” man outburst on Peter Obi, Labour Party presidential candidate.
Mbaka’s followers took to the Adoration Ground on Sunday in protest calling for the Bishop to leave and hurling insults at him.
In a statement posted on the Adoration Ministry’s Facebook page, Mbaka said that he is not “in any way involved in such activity,” adding that he received Bishop Onaga’s directive “with obedience.”
He appealed to the members of the Adoration Ministry to remain calm and refrain from any “measure of violence, either in action or by abusive utterances. Those who take to attacking or insulting my dear Bishop should desist from that.”
The statement partly reads, “My attention has been drawn to activities that took place in the Adoration ground on Sunday. I am not in any way involved in such activity. We received with obedience the directive issued by my Bishop, His Excellency, Most Rev CVV Onaga, on June 17, 2022.
“May I, therefore, appeal to the faithful, in particular,r members of Adoration Ministry Enugu, Nigeria, to remain calm and united with the body of Christ in the Diocese and also refrain from any measure of violence either in action or by abusive utterances.
“Those who take to attacking or insulting my dear Bishop, should desist from such.
“The Bishop is the Shepherd of the Church in the Diocese and we remain his flock who in every way and at all times is expected to be respectful, obedient and willing to respond favourably to his apostolic directives.
“May I also remind you that all Adoration activities have been suspended till further notice.
“Adoration Ministry is ever submissive to the mother Church. I enjoin all adorers to know this and remain constantly in prayers for the manifestation of the will of God in the life of the Ministry.”
Ifunanya Ikueze is an Engineer, Safety Professional, Writer, Investor, Entrepreneur and Educator.
