The Catholic Diocese of Enugu has suspended Reverend Father Ejike Mbaka from church activities for one month over his row with President Muhammadu Buhari.
Mbaka was asked to proceed on suspension with effect from May 3 after being summoned by Callistus Valentine Onaga, the diocesan bishop.
Onaga called Mbaka in following his repeated clashes with Buhari and warned that his conduct was smearing the church’s image, the largest of any Christian organisation worldwide, church officials familiar with the matter.
Mbaka’s criticism of the Buhari regime over its inaction on the widespread killings across the nation has been strong.
At the Adoration Ministry in Enugu, Mbaka said it was wrong for Buhari to maintain grave silence despite the incessant killings in the country.
He accused the government of being behind several killings across the country and tagging separatists groups as terrorists rather than focus on getting them good jobs.
READ ALSO: Catholic Church Suspends Mbaka Over Clash With Buhari
The cleric also frowned on the activities of herders that destroy the farmland of people without any repercussion.
He said Buhari had failed Nigeria woefully and that he should resign now. Mbaka also called for the president’s impeachment.
Before falling out with Buhari recently, Mr Mbaka was an ardent supporter of the president. He endorsed his campaign in 2015 and claimed his blessings played a role in its success.
But as Buhari’s regime failed to tackle acute poverty and insecurity, Mr Mbaka said he was compelled to speak up and distance himself from his regime, describing it as evil and satanic and calling on the president himself to vacate office.
Church sources said Mbaka’s latest suspension was being viewed as significant for its undertone, but not the first time the fiery priest would face administrative action.
“We know people will link this to his confrontation with Buhari, but he was once demoted from a parish priest to a deputy under a parish priest,” a church official said. “He had also been transferred from bigger parishes to smaller ones for his frequent infractions in the past.”
Still, church officials admitted Mbaka’s Adoration Ministry has been a cash cow for the Enugu Diocese, even though it was built by Mr Mbaka and not directly under its control.
“The real problem is the Diocese has been financially dependent on Mbaka, collecting his millions,” a source said, adding that some of the senior clerics themselves have also been in bed with politicians whom Mr Mbaka has long railed against.
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