Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka (left) with Peter Obi, the 2023 Presidential candidate of Labour Party
By Andrew Onyejuruuwa
Civil Rights Realization and Advancement Network (CRRAN), at the weekend reacted to the brouhaha between the Catholic authorities in Enugu State Southeast Nigeria and Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka. CRRAN faulted the closure of Adoration Ministry, which is pastored by Mbaka by the Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Most Rev (Dr) Callistus Onaga.
CRRAN is holding out that the action by the Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese is a grave attack on the constitutional right of freedom of religion, worship, and aassociation of millions of Nigerians who worship at Mbaka’s Adoration Ministry
CRRAN in a statement signed by its president, Olu Omotayo, said, “We condemn without equivocation the closure of Adoration Prayer Center, Enugu, which has over the years serve as a place of succour for millions of Christians both Catholics and non -Catholic.
“The decision of the Enugu Catholic Diocese though targeted at the Presiding Priest Rev Fr C. Ejike Mbaka, for his remarks against Mr. Peter Obi, is a grave violation on the Right to Freedom of Worship and Religion of millions of faithfuls who converge at the centre for prayers on daily basis.
“It would be recalled that the right to Freedom of worship is gradually being eroded by religious bodies in Nigeria considering the incident in Abuja’when Sheikh Khalid the Imam of Apo Juma’at mosque was removed because of his harsh statement against the President Buhari led Federal Government.
“The events unfolding in Enugu, where justification is being found to justify the ban by Bishop on Catholics worshipping at Adoration ground because of Fr Mbakas’ statement against Peter Obi, is not only unconstitutional, it’s an attack on the Rule of Law, Freedom of worship and Religion and taking the country back to the medieval time.
“During the Abuja incident on the removal of Sheikh Khalid nobody cited Quranic Injunctions that Muslims should respect and obey leaders in authority in order to Justify the unlawful removal of the Imam but the removal was roundly condemned by all including Muslims and Christians, so the Enugu incident should be roundly condemned.
“It would also be recalled that Father Mbaka was only admonished and Adoration services suspended for weeks some months ago because he criticized the Federal Government, which we all condemned.
“We submit that for anybody to hide under Canon law and close down where millions of faithful’s worship because the presiding priest made harsh statement against Peter Obi is not only a grave violation of Freedom of speech and Association of the priest, but a grave violation of the freedom of worship and religion of millions of faithful’s, both Catholics and non-Catholics who worship daily at the centre.”
Peter is the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in next year’s presidential elections who appears to be a candidate that has appealed to all Nigerians across board because of the years of misrule between the All Progressive Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Of all the presidential candidates of the major political parties, Peter Obi is the only candidate that is running issue-based campaign and telling Nigerians how he plan to rebuild the country, which has been be thoroughly run down.
