By Ogochukwu Isioma
The Catholic Diocese of Enugu has distanced itself from the controversial remarks made by Spiritual Director of the Adoration Ministry, Enugu, Nigeria (AMEN), Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka.
Mbaka had on Wednesday, described Peter Obi, the Labour Party 2023 presidential candidate, as a ‘stingy man, declaring that unless God ceases to exist, Obi would never become Nigerian president.
According to the controversial and fiery priest, it was better to have an old man that gives alms as president than a ‘stingy young man.’
Reacting in a statement on Thursday, the Bishop of Enugu, Rev Ernest Obodo, described Mbaka’s remarks as “inflammatory political utterances.”
He said such remarks were divisive and contravene the canon 220 of the 1983 Code of Canon Law which prohibits anyone from illegitimately harming the “good name” of a person.
Rev Obodo insisted that Mbaka’s views on the matter are entirely personal to him and do not represent the position of the Catholic Diocese of Enugu.
The Bishop, therefore, warned Mbaka to refrain from making further provocative prophecies or utterances capable of heating up the polity.
The statement partly reads: ”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 elections and to discharge their civic responsibilities by getting their Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) and casting their votes in order to elect the right candidates. May Our Lady, Queen of Nigeria, intercede for us.”
