There are strong indications that the Spiritual Director of Adoration Ministry Enugu Nigeria (AMEN), Rev Fr Ejike Mbaka may no longer be in charge to officiate liturgical activities at the Adoration chaplaincy, Enugu.
The report has it that Fr Mbaka on Thursday announced in a statement that Adoration Ministry activities would resume on Sunday.
A mild drama ensued in an attempt to replace Fr. Mbaka was resisted on Sunday as the congregation attempted to mob the new priest.
Mbaka had barely announced his successor when Adoration faithful who had thronged the Emene prayer ground to receive him after about three months of suspension went wild in protest.
They were shocked by the transfer of Mbaka after months of suspension and vehemently rejected the new Chaplain.
The revolt was directed at the new priest identified as Rev. Fr. Anthony Amadi, who had to be whisked away as the crowd surged to attack him.
Mr Mbaka according to sources will be going to a monastery in Edo State, for the time being, possibly to complete his suspension there.
Meanwhile, some of the Adoration faithful, who spoke to TVC News have vowed that no other priest would be welcome to the Chaplaincy, alleging a gang-up from certain quarters in the church against Mbaka.
The Catholic Bishop of the diocese, Most Rev Onaga, had on June 3 restricted Fr Ejike Mbaka from commenting on partisan politics.
Shortly after the initial ban was lifted, Mbaka violated the ban and verbally attacked Peter Obi, the Labour Party presidential candidate, describing him as a ‘stingy man’.
Following outrage and condemnation that trailed the attack on Obi, the Bishop issued a pastoral injunction on attendance to Catholic Adoration Ministry Chaplaincy Enugu and enjoined all Catholics to stop visiting the ministry till further notice.
The Bishop also advised the Catholic faithful to pray for Mbaka.
When contacted to confirm the true state of the report, the Director of Communications, Enugu Catholic Diocese Rev. Fr. Benjamin Achi refused to pick up or return our text message.
But sources confirmed that an interim leadership has been appointed for the ministry, pending when Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka completes his stay at the Monastery.
