There was massive protest, followed by wild jubilation amidst a confusing atmosphere in Enugu State on Wednesday after Reverend Father Ejike Mbaka, founder of the Adoration Ministry Enugu Nigeria (AMEN) was declared missing, and subsequently released.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports rumours quickly went round that Father Mbaka might be hiding due to perceived dangers or he was kidnapped or whisked away by security operatives.
The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide first raised the alarm over the whereabouts of the fiery Enugu priest amidst massive protests before he was subsequently released.
Mbaka vs FG: Genesis of the matter
Trouble started when Father Mbaka aired his opinion on the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, critically criticising the administration over the pervasive insecurity across the country.
The Catholic priest, who was instrumental to Buhari’s emergence in 2015 and 2019, said the President should resign immediately or be impeached by the National Assembly (NASS).
Mbaka said Buhari failed Nigerians woefully, and wondered how he is able to maintain grave silence despite the incessant killings going on in the country.
The Catholic priest explained that Nigerians are crying because they don’t have a Shepherd, warning those who will attack him to desist, if not, they will face God’s wrath.
Presidency fires back at Mbaka
However, Father Mbaka’s warning seemingly fell into deaf ears as the presidency immediately fired back as the Reverend Father, calling him out to have begged for contracts.
The presidency in a statement released by Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, stated that Father Mbaka was being eaten up because Buhari refused him the contracts.
The Presidency then went on to narrate how the Reverend Father allegedly went to Aso Rock with some contractors to request Buhari for contracts as compensation for his support.
In his statement, Garba Shehu revealed that the presidency maintained discretion that if the pictures and requests by Mbaka were made public, his followers would turn against him.
However, Father Mbaka quickly responded to the presidential aide, cautioning him to be very careful that even bandits can kill Garba Shehu.
The Catholic cleric went further to stress that if the government continues to fail in taking care of the youth and fails to tackle the issues he has raised, there is no level of securing Aso Rock that can secure the country.
Mbaka’s disappearance, release
Unexpectedly, protests erupted in Enugu State on Wednesday following the exchange of missiles between the cleric and the FG that Father Mbaka was whisked away by yet to be identified security operative.
It is not immediately clear if it is the comments about bandits killing Garba Shehu that security operatives whisked Father Mbaka away or it is the criticisms of the president that was the cause.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, OYC first raised the alarm over the whereabouts of the Reverend Father.
Ohanaeze Youth Council in a statement issued by its President General, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike claimed that the priest was missing.
Nnabuike stated that Father Mbaka was last seen on Tuesday, adding that every effort to trace him had failed.
“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 happen 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,” the statement reads.
Meanwhile, close aides of the cleric addressed the issue of Mbaka’s disappearance before his subsequent release.
“Today is the Wednesday programme, ‘E no dey again’, if he don’t officiate, it will then be clear that something is wrong,” one of them said.
According to reports, following the apprehension, all the youths of the ministry were summoned to AMEN ground.
However, the apprehension never really lasted as Father Mbaka was immediately released following his disappearance.
He has appeared to a group of protesters in Enugu in order to allay the fear that he had been arrested by security agents.
Meanwhile, neither Father Mbaka nor the security operatives have opened up on the disappearance and subsequent release of the fiery Enugu priest.
However, the Department of State Services (DSS) has denied involvement.
