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Mbaka closes Adoration Ministry for one month

Mbaka

Success Nwogu

Spiritual Director of Adoration Ministry, Enugu, in Enugu State, Rev Father Camillius Ejike Mbaka, on Tuesday, announced the closure of spiritual activities at the Adoration Ministry.

In a statement, he also said he has embarked on a private prayer retreat that will end on 10th June 2021.

He directed his followers to be praying at their homes.

The statement reads: “Our Spiritual Director, Rev Fr Ejike Mbaka wishes to inform his beloved adorers that he has embarked on a private prayer retreat that will end on 10th June, 2021.

“Consequently, no ministry activities shall be held in the ministry ground pending his return.

“He directs that members of the ministry are to observe this period of his retreat as they used to do during the usual January breaks of the ministry, by praying at their homes, being charitable and fasting according to their ability.”

The development was sequel to the directive on him by the Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Bishop Calistus Onaga, to embark on a one -month retreat.

It could be recalled that there was a stir last Wednesday when Mbaka was said to have been missing.

The President-General of Ohanaeze Youth Council, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, had raised the alarm that the priest was missing.

Nnabuike, in a statement, said Mbaka was last seen on Tuesday last week and that efforts to locate him had failed.

He said, “We have it on good authority that his aides have neither seen nor heard from him since Tuesday.

“Calls put to his mobile line have also remained unanswered; this has now prompted us to issue this alarm as we would not take it lightly should anything untoward happens to him.

“We are giving the Federal Government 48 hours to produce the priest, else they should be ready to face Igbo youths.

They were dining and wining with him all along and now that he told the truth, they are no longer comfortable with him.

“Let nothing happen to Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka. It will not be in anybody’s interest.”

Following the confusion that trailed his whereabouts, Mbaka followers had last Wednesday stormed the Episcopal residence demanding to know the priest’s whereabouts.

They were said to have destroyed property at the bishop’s residence.

They had claimed that the Bishop had invited Mbaka for a meeting and since then, he had not been seen.

However, Mbaka later last Wednesday resurfaced.

Sequel to the destruction of church property by protesters, the bishop directed for seven days of prayers for reparation and atonement.

Onaga had in a circular on May 6, 2021, to all parishes, chaplaincies, and religious houses in Enugu Catholic Diocese declared for a week of prayers.

He said, “On 5th May, 2021, the followers of Fr. Camillius Ejike Mbaka of the Adoration Ministry Enugu, Nigeria violently broke into diocesan cathedral church and desecrated the holy alter of sacrifice.

Over and above this, they brutally vandalized the diocesan Bishop’s residence, the cathedral parish house and the Secretariat building complex.

“Therefore, I hereby declare and call for a week union of reparation and atonement for this heinous act against our central place of worship and the sanctity of the church.

The prayer begins from Friday 7th May to Friday, 14th May, 2021.

Every parish, chaplaincy, and religious community in the diocese is obliged to participate in this holy activity.”

It could be recalled that Mbaka had criticised President Muhammadu Buhari and the Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma.

The priest, who previously supported Buhari, had called for the impeachment of the President if he refused to resign.

Mbaka said, “Our leaders have failed us woefully. God will ask Nigerians, ‘Nigerians why are you crying?’ We are crying because our leaders have failed us woefully.

If it is in a civilized country, by now President Buhari will resign. By now, with happening, President Muhammadu Buhari should honourably resign.

We are crying because we do not have a shepherd.

“Either Buhari resigns by himself or be will be impeached. This statement is too mysterious and supernatural.”

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Ihesiulo Grace

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