The Catholic Diocese of Enugu has condemned and dissociated itself from the political statements made by Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, Director of the Catholic Adoration Ministry Chaplaincy, against Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections.
The diocese characterised Mbaka’s remarks against Obi as disgraceful and divisive.
Rev. Fr. Wilfred Agubuchie, Chancellor/Secretary of the diocese; Rev. Fr. Geoffrey Aguigwo, Vicar General; and Most Rev. Ernest Obodo, Auxiliary Bishop, signed the statement.
However, the church cautioned Mbaka against making further provocative prophecies or statements that could inflame the political climate.
The statement read, “The attention of the Diocesan Bishop, Most Rev. Callistus Onaga, and the Catholic Diocese of Enugu has been drawn to the inflammatory political utterances by Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, the Director of Catholic Adoration Ministry Chaplaincy Enugu, on Wednesday, June 15, 2022 during his Wednesday Adoration Programme.
“Fr. Mbaka, during his preaching, attacked the good reputation of Mr Peter Obi, the Labour Party presidential candidate, describing him as ‘a 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 the Labour Party and vowed that Mr Obi could not be the president of Nigeria.
“This is a clear violation of the provisions of canon 287 $2 which forbids priests from engaging in partisan politics.
“The Catholic Diocese of Enugu hereby condemns and dissociates 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.
“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.”