The Catholic Diocese, Enugu has cautioned Catholic priest Rev. Fr Ejike Mbaka following his outburst about presidential aspirant Peter Obi, describing him as a ‘stingy man’.
The Catholic Diocese asked him to desist from any further inflammatory political statement.
In a statement issued on Thursday, and made available to our reporter, the diocese said the opinion of the priest does not represent that of the diocese.
The release which entitled, “Re: inflamatory political utterances by Rev.Camilius Ejike Mbaka” and variously signed by Rev. Fr. Wilfred Chidi Agubuche, Secretary/ Chancellor,Very Rev. Fr.Godfrey Aguigwo, Vicar-General and Most Rev. Ernest Aniezichukwu Obodo, the Auxiliary bishop equally urged the faithful to get their Permanent Voters Card for the forthcoming election.
Below is the full text of the release:
The attention of the diocesaen bishop, Most Rev. Calistus V.C Onaga and the Catholic diocese of Enugu has been drawn to the inflamatory political utterances by Rev. Camilius Ejike Mbaka, the director of Catholic Adoration Ministry Chaplaincy Enugu.
On Wednesday, 15 June 2022, during his Wednesday Adoration program. Fr. Mbaka during his preaching, attacked the good reputation of Mr. Peter Obi, the Labour Party presidential candidate describing him as “stingy man” and as a” joker” contrary to canon 220 of the 1983 code of canon law which prohibits anyone from illegitimately harming the good name of.a person.
He also made fun of Labour party that Mr. Obi could not be the president of Nigeria. This is a clear violation of provision of Canon 287 and 2 which forbids priests from engaging in partisan politics. 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 view are entirely personal to him and do not represent the position of Catholic diocese of Enugu.
In effect to keep him united to the body of Christ, we enjoin him to refrain from making further provocative prophecies or utterances capable of hearing 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.
Finally, we urge all the people of God to continue to pray for peaceful election and to discharge their civic responsibility by getting their Permanent Voters Card, PVC and casting their votes in order to elect the right candidate.
May Our Lady, Queen of Nigeria interceed for us.
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