I’ve No Hand In Adoration Ground’s Protest – Father Mbaka

BY ONYEKACHUKWU IBEZIM – Still smarting from the indefinite suspension slammed on his Adoration Ministry Enugu, Nigeria (AMEN) by the Catholic Church, embattled clergy and Spiritual Director of the Ministry, Reverend Fr. Ejike Mbaka has disowned the protests that rocked the Adoration ground on Sunday.

In distancing himself from the protest by his followers that clearly targeted the Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Most Rev. Callistus Onaga, the controversial priest said he never knew about the protest and could not even have authorised such.

The protesters had early on Sunday morning trooped to town with “the Bishop must go for imposing a ban on activities at the AMEN ground sed on the Adoration Ministry by Bishop Onaga.

However, reacting to the protest in a statement that he signed personally on Monday, the controversial cleric disowned the demonstration saying that in obedience to the ban, he had since shut the Ministry till further notice.

Urging his followers and admirers who have resorted to “attacking or insulting my dear Bishop,” to desist from such acts, Father Mbaka said the Bishop, as the shepherd of the church in the Diocese, must be respected and his office honoured.

According to the statement; “My attention has been drawn to activities that took place in the Adoration ground on Sunday. I am not in any way involved in such activity. We received with obedience the directive issued by my Bishop, His Excellency, Most Rev CVV Onaga on June 17, 2022.

“May I, therefore, appeal to the faithful, in particular members of Adoration Ministry Enugu, Nigeria, to remain calm and united with the body of Christ in the Diocese and also refrain from any measure of violence either in action or by abusive utterances.

“Those who take to attacking or insulting my dear Bishop should desist from such. The Bishop is the Shepherd of the Church in the Diocese and we remain his flock who in every way and at all times is expected to be respectful, obedient, and willing to respond favourably to his apostolic directives.

“May I also remind you that all Adoration activities have been suspended till further notice. Adoration Ministry is ever submissive to the Mother Church.

“I enjoin all adorers to know this and remain constantly in prayers for the manifestation of the will of God in the life of the Ministry”.