The Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Most Rev. Callistus Onaga, has transferred the Chaplain and Spiritual Director, Adoration Ministry, Enugu, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, to the monastery.
Consequently, Rev. Fr. Anthony Amadi has been named to replace him (Mbaka) as the new chaplain of the Adoration Ministry Chaplaincy.
This decision by the Catholic Secretariat has drawn the ire of Mbaka’s supporters, who protested the decision and chased the new chaplain out of the ministry.
This came as the church issued a clarification on the reports of the transfer.
This was disclosed by the National Director of Social Communications, CSN, Padre Nsikak-Umoh, in a statement on Monday, titled, “Fr. Mbaka: The True Position.”
Nsikak-Umoh noted that Mbaka was the one who recommended his replacement to head the ministry for the time he would be away ‘in solitude’ and not the Bishop of the Enugu Diocese, Most Revd Callistus Onaga.
According to him, it was with the approval of Onaga, that Mbaka introduced Amadi as the new interim leader of the ministry to worshippers, pending his return; a move which was greeted with protests by some faithful.
The statement read, “Going by an interview with the Director of Communications, Enugu Diocese, Rev. Fr. Ben Achi, Very Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka was not removed from the Adoration Ministry, as many reports are suggesting.
“Rather, according to Fr. Achi, since it was recommended that Fr. Mbaka takes time away in solitude, to listen to what the Spirit of God has to tell him, he was allowed to propose a priest to administer, in the interim, to the faithful at the Adoration Ministry.
“With the approval of his bishop, on Sunday, October 2, 2022, Fr. Mbaka introduced Fr. Anthony Amadi to the worshippers.
“Unfortunately, some people were still not pleased and would prefer that Fr. Mbaka remains.
The PUNCH had reported that the Catholic Diocese of Enugu had on June 3 banned Mbaka from commenting on political issues after activities in the ministry were suspended.
One of his supporters who spoke to journalists on condition of anonymity said “All along, the Bishop has been trying to take over the Adoration Ministry. But I can assure you that no priest will succeed there. So long as Fr. Mbaka is not there, nobody will come there to worship.”
Mbaka on 2023
Meanwhile, Mbaka was said to have spoken about the 2023 general elections, describing some of the contestants as wasting their time.
He was reported to have stated this on Sunday, during his first Holy Mass at the Adoration Chaplaincy.
Although our correspondent was not at the service, one of Mbaka’s supporters, Mrs Chinwe Ndu, quoted him to have said, “Many people are wasting their time for 2023 general elections. God said I should not reveal it…but as it stands, many people are wasting their time.
“The Lord said that the vision shall surely come to pass even if it tarries, just wait for it.
“If not for the warning of the Holy Spirit, I would have given Nigeria a simple solution. But just wait.”
