For the most of last week, the controversial priest and minister in charge of the Catholic’s Adoration Ministry, Enugu, Rev. Father Camillus Ejike Mbaka stirred the hornest’ net when he made an uncomplimentary remark on the aspiring candidate of the Labour Party, and the former Governor of Anambra State Mr. Peter Obi by calling him a stingy man who could not become Nigeria’s next president.
PTL News here presents a detailed report of the event which has earned the garrulous cleric a harmer from his superior.
What He said: Peter Obi Is A Stingy Man, Cannot Be Our President – Father Mbaka
The vocal prelate of the Catholic Dioceses of Enugu, Reverend Fr. Ejike Mbaka has slammed the Nigerian Labour Party’s presidential hopeful, Mr. Peter Obi as a very stingy man who could not be the next president of Nigeria.
By implication he revealed who he would not be supporting in the 2023 Presidential elections.
The Reverend Father stated this during his Wednesday programme tagged Adoration Hour that Peter Obi of the Labour party would not succeed to the number one position in the country owing to his stingy nature
In the statement which has gone viral, the Spiritual Director of the Adoration Ministries said, “A stingy man cannot be our president.”
He declared, “We are already hungry. We need a generous person. Nigerians are hungry. Are we not hungry?”
According to him, Nigeria would be in a better position with Atiku taking the helm of affairs rather than the one-time governor of Anambra state.
“It is now that Atiku is seriously contesting for President; now that he is contesting without Peter Obi; it is now that he is serious? We want somebody that is serious.
Father Mbaka further added that Obi had insulted the Holy Spirit, saying that Obi needed the forgiveness of God to attain presidency
“Unless Peter comes here to kneel, if he becomes President, he will close down this ministry. What we are doing is spiritual.”
He continued, “If Igbo people are looking for a representative in Nigeria, they are not the kind of person Peter Obi is. Whoever refuses to donate to the church should not be the president”
The statement has sparked a lot of reactions both from the Church Authority, and on social media platforms with many speculating that Mbaka’scommnets were courtesy of his inability to secure monetary donations for his parish.
Here are some reactionary reactions below
Catholic Church condemns Mbaka’s ‘stingy’ comment on Peter Obi
The Catholic Diocese of Enugu has disassociated itself from the scathing remarks against Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, by its outspoken priest, Ejike Mbaka.
Father Mbaka, during his weekly ministration service on Wednesday, said Mr Obi will not be president of Nigeria in 2023 because he is “a stingy man who does not give out money to people.”
He also said unless Mr Obi returned to his Adoration Ministry to apologise for refusing to make a donation to the ministry when he was asked to do so, his ambition to become president of Nigeria would be fruitless.
Reacting through a statement by the Auxiliary Bishop of the diocese, Ernest Obodo, the Catholic Church condemned the cleric for his utterances against Mr Obi.
The church described the comments as “provocative and divisive.”
The statement was also signed by the Secretary of the diocese, Wilfred Agubuchie, and the Vicar General of the Church, Geoffrey Aguigwo.
According to the statement, “The Catholic Diocese of Enugu hereby condemns and disassociates herself from such unbecoming and divisive utterances from Fr. Mbaka.
“We notify the general public that Fr. Mbaka’s views on the matter are entirely personal to him and do not represent the position of the Catholic Diocese of Enugu,” the statement read in part.
It said the comments by the cleric was a “clear violation” of the provisions of canon 287 (2) which forbids catholic priests from engaging in partisan politics.
It added that the comments were also contrary to Canon 220 of the 1983 Code of the Canon Law in the church which prohibits “anyone from illegitimately” harming the good name of a person.
“In an effort to keep him united to the Body of Christ, we enjoin him to refrain from making further provocative prophecies or utterances capable of heating up the polity.
“We assure the people of God and the general public that the Catholic Diocese of Enugu is taking the due canonical process,” the statement added.
The statement asked Nigerians to continue to pray for peaceful elections in the country, and to act like good citizens by getting their Permanent Voter’s Card ahead of the 2023 general elections.
‘Stingy young man’: I have no plan to reply Fr Mbaka – Peter Obi
Peter Obi, Labour Party presidential candidate, has debunked reports that he has replied Catholic Priest, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, for calling him a stingy and cursed man.
Reports have it that Father Mbaka, at his Adoration Ministry in Enugu State, declared that unless God ceases to exist, Obi would never smell the seat of the president.
According to him, it was better to have an old man as president than a ‘stingy young man’
However, a report of a purported response from Peter Obi had emerged on Thursday.
Reacting, a statement issued by Obi’s media aide, Valentine Obienyem on Thursday, said the presidential candidate is not planning to issue any response to the cleric.
“Our attention has been drawn to a statement credited to Mr Peter Obi as his reply to Fr. Ejike Mbaka.
“We wish to state for the record that Mr Peter Obi did not and is not planning to issue any reply.
“We advise that any medium trying to publish such an unsigned letter should clarify its authenticity from Mr Obi’s Media Office.”
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