LET Rev FATHER MBAKA BE. So much controversy has greeted the recent new year message delivered by the charismatic catholic priest, Rev father Mbaka of Enugu. The message was delivered at the adoration ground to thousands of his followers. Subsequently, a video was produced of the message and the video went viral especially in the social media. It attracted diverse comments from across the Nigerian society. The govt, the political parties, the highly placed, the ordinary citizens and even the church are trading words on the content and context of father Mbakas new year message. One may say even the Presidents new year message to the nation did not attract so much attention and comments from Nigerians as did father Mbakas sermon on new year day. What did Father Mbaka say that put him in the eye of the storm? He simply said God had revealed a vision to him in which he was commanded to tell Nigerians that the govt of goodluck jonathan is badluck to Nigeria. He cited a litany of woes the country is going through as a result of misrule, uncontrolled corruption and a battered economy under the watch of GEJ. Father Mbaka called for a change of govt through the ballot (not otherwise). He did not incite the congregation or any body to violence. He simply advocated that Nigerians should vote out PDP and GEJ in the 2015 elections. He identified APC and GMB as the solution to our national problems and courted the support of Nigerians to vote for change. Mark you, father Mbaka did not utter a word about violence or incitement to violence. He only prayed for change. Is there any thing wrong with that? I think not. It would be recalled that about two months before this message, the same father Mbaka on the same adoration ground before the same kind of congregation whuch included Dame Patience Jonathan, delivered a sermon which was widely publicised. In it, he extolled the virtues of GEJ and the PDP. He sang their praises in the sweetest melodies. He even said GEJ was divinely appointed to rule Nigeria. He spoke in the most caustic ways about APC, GMB and the North. He prayed for the PDP and Jonathan and urged Nigerians to vote for Jonathan and his party. The govt through the NTA broadcast the service live on network and repeated it a couple of times. It was telecast even yesterday on the NTA. No body castigated father Mbaka for this. Even the loquaciuos Lai Muhammed the great spokesman of the APC did not join issues with father Mbaka, neither did GMB or any group from the North. This is a show of political and religious tolerance on the part of those disparaged by father Mbakas preaching at that time. Now these are the two sides of the same coin Mbaka has thrown to us. One for and the other against Jonathan and the PDP. I dont want to speculate why father Mbaka summersaulted from his previous stand on GEJ and the PDP but he explained that it was a vision from God. Coming from a man of God, i have no reason to challenge his vision nor criticise the basis for it. What I am concerned about, is why Rev father Mbakas life is being threatened ( he raised the alarm himself) and why his carrerer as a priest is being considered for sanction. I dont know who is threatening his life or why his life should be threatened. He simply expressed his opinion and if it runs foul of the law, i expect that he should be investigated and made to face the wrath of the law. That is the essence of democracy- the rule of law not the rule of might or impunity. As for the threat to his spiritual career as a priest which was reported in the press, I am not competent to comment for two reasons. One, I am not a Christian and this is a church matter. Secondly, I dont know the rules of the church regarding the limitations of the roles of the clergy. Therefore I refrain from passing any judgement. But for those threatening Father Mbakas life for political or other reasons than spiritual, I ask the question why did you not crucify him when he campaigned for Jonathan and the PDP? Why is he now wrong because he changed his mind? It is very natural in human affairs for some one not only a priest to change his mind on worldly issues if circumstances change. All of us have one time or the other shifted grounds on issues and i see nothing wrong in that. Even our politicians at the highest levels have defected, returned, redefected and are still defecting and returning in cycles. No body questioned them nor queried their motives. So why should father Mbaka be treated diffrently? My advice to those who think the cllergy man committed a crime for changing his mind, is that he may be subjected to the due process of the law based on proof or just let him be!.
Posted on: Wed, 07 Jan 2015 07:02:02 +0000
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