The youth wing of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has told a radical Catholic priest based in Enugu, the Rev. Father Ejike Mbaka, to stop inciting Ndigbo against President Goodluck Jonathan.
The National President of Ohanaeze Youth Council, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, who gave the warning on Tuesday in an interview with our correspondent in Umuahia, said the organisation felt highly disturbed by Mbaka’s recent comments on the President, wondering why a priest should be dabbling into politics.
Isiguzoro, who was reacting to the recent call by Mbaka that Jonathan should step down for Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) of the All Progressives Congress at the February 14 Presidential election, warned the priest to retract the controversial remarks.
He also demanded an unconditional apology from Mbaka to President Jonathan, warning the priest to steer clear of politics.
Isiguzoro said, “A line separates religion from politics. Let Mbaka concentrate on his priestly calling and stop meddling in politics.”
The Ohanaeze helmsman said Mbaka’s utterances were serious embarrassments to Ndigbo. He therefore warned him to stop making himself a willing tool for those who want to pull down the President.
Accusing Mbaka of acting a script for the opposition, he argued that the cleric’s remarks were “filled with contradictions and half truths .”
Isiguzoro further argued, “By castigating the President, Mbaka has compromised in the oath he took as a priest.” He consequently warned him to “stop his predictions that never come true.”
He said, “In 2003, Mbaka predicted that ex-Governor Chimaroke Nnamani would not return as governor in Enugu State, but he ( Nnamani) returned; he also predicted in 2014 that Ikedi Ohakim would return as Imo State governor, but he failed the primary.”
Ohanaeze, therefore, asked the priest to settle whatever grievances he had with Jonathan through the appropriate channels and refrain from vituperations aimed at disparaging the office of the President.
Isiguzoro restated the unwavering support of Igbo youths to Jonathan’s re-election bid, and urged members of the public to disregard Mbaka’s comments, which he said, had since been condemned by the Catholic Church.
via nigerianeye
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