Michael Onwuka, Enugu
The Spiritual Director, Adoration Ministries Enugu, Rev. Fr. Camillus Mbaka, has apologised over his verbal assault on former governor of Anambra State and presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general election, Mr Peter Obi.
Mbaka, in a statement made available to newsmen on Friday in Enugu, said that he was misunderstood and had no intention to malign the former governor.
Recall that Mbaka in his recent ministration disclosed that Obi would never be Nigeria’s president.
The Catholic priest also labeled Obi “a stingy man, that cannot give people his money,” adding that people would die of hunger if Obi became the president.
However, Mbaka said that he was misunderstood and did not mean to disparage the personality of the presidential candidate.
“My intention is not to fight or malign Peter Obi’s image, but to pray for him. I give my blessings to the supporters of Obi.
“In any way they feel offended by my utterances or however I was misunderstood by them, I ask for their understanding and forgiveness,” he said.
Mbaka said that he was an ardent supporter of good governance, justice, equity, love, and godliness.
He said that the country was passing through an indescribable insecurity, inestimable unemployment, massive corruption, heinous crimes, and unbearable suffering engendered by bad leadership.
According to him, the followers of Obi are the same youths he prays for, sacrifices for, fights for and works for their integral wellbeing.
“The condition of the youths gives me sleepless nights and it is for this reason that I yearn for good governance and worthy leaders that will take care of them.
“For the sake of peace, I ask for forgiveness in any way I am misunderstood and to Peter Obi himself, I ask God to bless him and manifest his will in his life,” Mbaka said.
Ikengaonline reports that Mbaka also announced the suspension of his usual Friday all-night adoration programme for June 17, 2022.
Below is the full text of Mbaka’s apology:
My Dear People of God,
“I am grateful to God for His unquantifiable and favourable blessings, miracles, love and life for the Adoration Ministry, Enugu, Nigeria.
“I assure the people of God and Nigerians that I am praying for Good Governance and Good Leadership in this country and that God will give us leaders after His own Heart.
“As it stands right now, it is obvious that Nigeria is passing through indescribable insecurity challenges, an inestimable unemployment crisis, massive corruption, heinous crimes, and unbearable suffering engendered by bad leadership. I bear with my fellow country men and women in whatever we are passing through in this trying time. I call on the adorers and the entire people of God to join hands in praying that God will deliver us from the plans of the devil and its wicked agents.
“I am a servant of God, and my intention is not to malign His Excellency, Peter Obi’s image, but to pray for him. May God’s will be done in his life. I pray to God whom I serve to give our beloved people good and excellent leaders who will take care of them and lead them to the promised land. Anyone who God wishes to make our Leader is my choice. In this vein, I give my blessings to His Excellency Peter Obi and his supporters, I also give my blessings to the other candidates and their supporters whose intention is also to give Nigeria good leaders. In any way, the supporters of Mr Peter Obi feel offended by my utterances or however I was misunderstood by them, I ask for their understanding and forgiveness. As a servant of the Most High God, I pray that it shall be well with my people. I am an ardent supporter of Good Governance, Justice, Equity, Love, and Godliness.
“At this time our people are passing through the valleys of shadows of death (Ps23.4), I pray for peace, love, and anything that will bring blessings and favour to our people and to our suffering teaming youths. I will always stand with you in all your ordeals. God will take care of you and bless you miraculously for me.
“My intention is not to fight or malign Mr. Peter Obi. He is my friend and remain my friend and brother I love him, and I wish him Success May God bless him and his good supporters. God’s will will be done in his political endeavours (Mk.14:36).
“The followers of Peter Obi are the same youths I am praying for, sacrificing for, fighting for, speaking for, and working for their integral well-being. What the youths are passing through and their conditions give me sleepless nights. It is for this reason that I yearn for good governance and worthy leaders that will take care of them. We are passing through indescribable, unbearable, and undeserved hardship in this country. I pray for Divine intervention.
“I am not in any political party, but I support good people and good governance. Any good person that God can give us is my choice candidate. I am a servant of God; For the sake of peace, I ask for forgiveness in any way I am misunderstood. And to Peter Obi himself, I ask God to bless him and manifest his will in his life. When God says Yes, who can say No? And when God says No, who can say Yes? I bless Peter Obi and pray for him. I bless my dear fellow Adorers and pray for them. I bless the people of God everywhere and I pray that it shall be well with you all.
“For the sake of those who were gruesomely killed on Pentecost Sunday at St. Francis Xavier parish Owo, Ondo State who are being buried today, there will be no all-night Adoration program today,17th June 2022. We join the entire Catholic Church to mourn their demise. May their souls and the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in Perfect Peace. Amen.
“Meanwhile, all adorers are asked to convene on Sunday 19th June 2022 for our usual 10 am Mass and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Fellowship. Thank you and God bless you all.”
Rev Fr Mbaka Ejike Camillus Anthony,
Spiritual Director, Adoration Ministry,
Enugu, Nigeria.
