Enugu-based Catholic priest Rev. Fr Ejike Mbaka on Wednesday dismissed people who gathered for the usual worship of his Adoration Ministry despite the ban placed by the bishop of the diocese Callistus Onaga.
Mbaka urged them to stop castigating Onaga and to keep keep away from the prayer ground.
In spite of the bishop’s order, hundreds of the Adoration Ministry congregants have continued to converge at the ground on a daily basis.
Addressing them, Mbaka said: “I’m a priest of the Catholic Church and the Bishop is my father, I swore an oath to obey him and his successors. I can not do otherwise.”
The cleric also urged them to continue praying for the Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, stressing that he was one of them, a brother and friend.
“I have come to bless you and to dismiss you, I don’t want you to go to the main road. I don’t want you to be pugnacious or to be cantankerous.
“I don’t want the adorers to be violent. I don’t want Adoration people to be classified as bandits for we are not bandits. We are obedient children of God, we love the mother church and the mother church loves us so much,” Mbaka said.
Onaga banned the laity and the clergy from worshipping at the ministry over Mbaka’s criticism of Mr Obi. Mbaka has since apologised for his comments.
