“I go on my knees and apologise to the Catholic Church for everything that happened.
“If I have said something wrong, please forgive me.”
With these words, the enfant terrible of the Catholic Church east of the Niger River, the Spiritual Director of Adoration Ministry Enugu Nigeria, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, apologised to the Church worldwide and Bishop Callistus Onaga of Enugu Diocese for the unholy display of righteousness of his followers when he was nowhere to be found, and traced to the Enugu Bishop’s court.
Recall that after his disappearance for two days last week, and there was tension in Enugu that he had been picked by security forces, the Catholic priest, after his reappearance, revealed that the authorities of the Enugu Catholic Diocese locked him up for two days.
Addressing his parishioners at the Adoration ground in Umuchigbo Nike, Enugu, after he was set free, he alleged that the plan was to keep him for 30 days.
He was allegedly accused of so many things by the Church leadership under Bishop Calistus Onaga, who told him that he would remain indoors for one month, a period that would allow him pray and meditate over his activities.
Mbaka has been at loggerheads with his former friend, President Muhammadu Buhari, who he has lately accused of ineptitude in the running of the country. The presidency lashed back, saying he was being sour because friends he brought to see Buhari were denied contracts.
Shortly after, the priest proceeded to bless head of renegade group, the Independent Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu; a move many see as a spite on government. It is not clear why the Catholic Church reined in Mbaka, whether for taking on Buhari or blessing Kanu.
The priest said he requested to be allowed the opportunity to come and address his parishioners after which he would shut down, “but they said No. I also begged them to allow me send another priest to come and celebrate mass for you today, they said No.”
But he was set free following a protest by his followers.
His followers last week damaged the residence of Bishop Onaga after going wild, damaging the building.
Mbaka said one of the cases presented against him was that he blessed Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.
“Are you the owner of my mouth? You can’t tell me who to bless? If you are not happy that I blessed someone, you have your own mouth, you can curse the person,” he declared.
However, Mbaka tendered his apology to the Church on Sunday at the Adoration Ground, Umuchigbo in Enugu East Local Government Area of Enugu State during a service.
He said: “My bishop and I are not arguing.
“There is no dispute between us.
“A lot of people want to put conflict between us, but what’s inside of me won’t allow it to succeed.
“I do not fight the Catholic Church.
“It cannot happen.
“All I have is the church.
“I have worked in the church for more than 25 years.
“Why should I start fighting it?”
“I go on my knees and apologise to the Catholic Church for everything that happened.
“If I have said something wrong, please forgive me.”
