The Catholic Diocese of Enugu has warned Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka against comments which could further heat up the polity following his statement about the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi.
In a statement on Thursday signed by the diocese’s chancellor/secretary, Rev. Fr. Wilfred Agubuchie; vicar general, Rev. Fr. Geoffrey Aguigwo, and the auxiliary bishop, Most Rev. Ernest Obodo, the diocese said Mbaka went contrary to canon 220 of the 1983 Code of Canon Law by his statement.
“Fr. Mbaka, during his preaching, attacked the good reputation of Mr Peter Obi, the Labour Party presidential candidate, describing him as ‘a stingy man’ and as ‘a joker’ contrary to canon 220 of the 1983 Code of Canon Law which prohibits anyone from illegitimately harming the good name of a person,” the statement said.
“He also made fun of the Labour Party and vowed that Mr Obi could not be the president of Nigeria.
“This is a clear violation of the provisions of canon 287 $2 which forbids priests from engaging in partisan politics.
“The Catholic Diocese of Enugu hereby condemns and dissociates herself from such unbecoming and divisive utterances from Fr. Mbaka.
“We notify the general public that Fr. Mbaka’s views on the matter are entirely personal to him and do not represent the position of the Catholic Diocese of Enugu.”
It added, “In an effort to keep him united to the Body of Christ, we enjoin him to refrain from making further provocative prophecies or utterances capable of heating up the polity.”
Last year, the diocese suspended Mbaka following an attack on the bishop by Mbaka’s supporters who feared he was held incommunicado after speaking on IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu.
