Aftermath of Fr Mbaka's Transfer

FR MBAKA’S TRANSFER AND THE POLITICS THEREAFTER

    

The last time I checked, the Enugu-based controversial Catholic Priest in the person of Rev Fr Ejike Mbaka who doubles as the Spiritual Director of the Adoration Ministry, Enugu had been transferred from his parish, Christ the King Catholic Church (C.K.C), GRA, Enugu metropolis in which he had spent over a decade to Our Lady of the Rosary Parish, Emene, Enugu State – a suburb of Enugu metropolis where the former is situated. 

    

It’s pertinent to note that fathomless public criticisms had greeted the aforesaid action. In some quarters, people are of the view that the decision to transfer the Priest was aimed at checkmating his activities which are apparently generating unpleasant wave within the body of Christ and the country at large. In their further reactions, they insinuated categorically that the Church’s plan to transfer all the priests in Enugu Diocese was to dilute any suspicion.

    

The All Progressives Congress (APC) had alleged that the Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Bishop Callistus Onaga was manipulated by external forces into effecting Fr Mbaka’s transfer. In their official briefing via their South-East caucus’ Spokesperson Mr Osita Okechikwu, they stated unequivocally that “As a party, we have watched with concern and trepidation the criticism, the attack, assault, and unpleasant comments hurled against Fr Mbaka since he providentially prophesized that President Buhari would win the 2015 elections” among other issues raised therein.

    

The Catholic Church on its part had clarified the transfer of the clergyman, saying that the controversial Priest was merely being sent to where he would be more useful to the church which wasn’t an unusual exercise. It further claimed that the posting, which was strictly in line with the church’s tradition, was not meant to be punitive or to witch-hunt the Priest in question as being speculated by the public.

     

It would be recalled that earlier in the year 2014, the Catholic Priest Fr Ejike Mbaka had prophesized that President Mohammadu Buhari would emerge victorious in the 2015 Presidential election, and fortunately or unfortunately his prophesy came to past. Hence, the various speculations regarding his recent transfer might not be unconnected to the aforementioned assertion.

    

In view of these altercations or brouhahas, I was tempted to enquire which political party Fr Mbaka belongs to. And at this moment, I’m still fascinated to know which party’s membership card could be found in his robe’s pocket; an inquiry that is dying for a candid answer.

    

Frankly, in recent times, the manner in which people try to link religion to politics is really becoming unbearable, thus requires a compelling attention. People need to understand that politics and religion, both which are no doubt essential and veritable tools in any society, are not unlike two parallel lines therefore have no meeting point.

      

In one of the works I did previously entitled “Taking worship beyond politics” as was published on the back cover page of the New Telegraph Newspaper penultimate year, specifically on Monday 6^th of April 2015, I wholly made it clear that the church is an institution specially meant for the liberation of mankind from all forms of bondage, to strengthen or uplift their faith, as well as to bring them nearer to their salvation, and not otherwise as most Nigerians see it.

     

In a similar spirit, in a piece I wrote entitled “Letter to the Pope” as was published in the Daily Times Newspaper on Wednesday 3^rd February 2016, having disclosed that religious bodies were to work towards actualizing good governance and not to take part in politics, I stated that if an institution like the church that’s widely regarded as ‘opium of the people’ was being abused or misused, it signified that the society was liable to encounter unimaginable comatose circumstance.

     

Personally, I don’t see anything wrong with a man of God prophesying about an unforeseen or a future situation; such practice is undoubtedly as old as the world, if not older. The angle I’m against is playing politics with such spiritual act; hence, people must be guided in this aspect before they attract curses upon themselves, or even on their generations yet unborn.

    

In view of this, let the politicians play their politics and allow the church to do its work. Most times the derailment witnessed on the part of the clergymen is attributable to the activity of some so called politicians; for crying out loud, let’s allow them concentrate on their callings. Rather than distracting them, what we are expected to do is nothing but to pray for them because they are unarguably in a seemingly hot zone.

    

Even if Fr Mbaka’s transfer was targeted to punish him, let’s not absorb it as an action that was politically motivated; rather, ought to be seen as a consequential step or something that was called for in the priesthood. We must take into cognizance that the church, particularly the Catholic dominion, has its unique method of handling issues.

   

Thus, instead of raising cloud of dusts as regards the exercise that seemed abrupt, all we need to do for the affected Priest if we truly care for him is to pray vehemently for his person. The priest had already stated that he alongside his ministry was going to ‘suffer’, so let’s not aggravate the anticipated suffering. Think about it!

 

Comr Fred Doc Nwaozor
Follow: @mediambassador  

         

How many Media Aides has Buhari?

HOW MANY MEDIA AIDES HAS BUHARI?

     

The last time I checked, if I wasn’t mistaken, the amiable President of Nigeria in the person of Mohammadu Buhari had four substantive media aides. You can put up a disapproval hereafter if you have a contrary view.

     

The portfolios of the concerned appointees/technocrats are as follows: Special Adviser (SA) on Media and Publicity, Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Media and Publicity, Special Assistant on New Media as well as Personal Assistant (PA) on New Media. Owing to these uncalled and inconsequential discrepancies, I was tempted to insinuate that this administration is equally synonymous with bureaucracy, which is not unusual in the Nigeria’s democratic terrain ab initio.

     

The worrisome part of the scenario is that it’s taking place at the moment when every dick and harry in Nigeria is deeply concerned over how the acclaimed giant of Africa can step down on excesses with a view to saving more funds for the anticipated economic diversification thereby ensuring that the ongoing crises emanating from the country’s dependency on mono-economy becomes a thing of the past.

    

Similarly, it’s being witnessed when we are bothered with or looking forward towards acquiring more experienced and respected economic aides for the Presidency that would look inwards on how the country could be salvaged from this unfortunate and unforeseen state of economic morass, especially at this time all eyes are on the 2016 appropriation bill that’s presently and pitiably lying in the National Assembly.

     

Undoubtedly, we are all aware how veritable the media, which is an inevitable tool, is; particularly in this era when everyone needs to be duly informed to avoid mere speculations among the people which are liable to constituting more severe societal tantrums and brouhahas in addition to the already existing ones. But such obvious fact never called for the engagement of several professionals all in the name of ‘media aides’.

     

One may appreciate the President for ensuring that the youth were carried along as regards the appointments in question, but it’s pertinent to acknowledge that there are various other vacant political positions the said group of persons (the youth) can fit in rather than involving too many hands in the media concernment which might even end up spoiling the soup.

    

Prior to when the current ministers were assigned respective portfolios, the country’s various ministries were merged whilst few others were scrapped which was aimed at eradicating bureaucracy thereby curtailing the not uncommon astronomical cost of governance on the nation’s democratic platform. This very step, which was indeed in line with the expectations of the citizenry, was really complimented in most quarters across the federation and beyond.

    

If this recollection holds water, then the Presidency is not expected to dampen the spirit of its followers that is already high as a result of the political wills showcased so far in regard to reviving the country’s economy. Thus it’s high time we started concentrating only on the needful and overlooked trivial issues solely for the sake of our collective national interest.

     

Right now, I urge our paramount interest to be shifted to the seemingly dying power sector. We must invariably note that the targeted diversification cannot be effectively and efficiently actualized if the aforesaid sector remains ostensibly moribund. We can’t meaningfully improve the agricultural sector without adequate and reliable power supply, likewise other sectors seriously yearning for revival. Hence, I’m of the view that switching over to solar energy as a source of electricity generation is long overdue. Countries that can’t even boast of up to 15 degree Celsius are already relying on solar, so what stops a country like ours that can currently boast of up to 40 degree Celsius from following suit?

     

So, as much as I appreciate as well as congratulate President Buhari for remembering the youth, I equally want to humbly and candidly appeal to his Excellency to endeavour to employ the role of ‘Scale of Preference’ as he ebulliently pilots this administration that’s targeted to ushering in the desired change. Think about it!

 

Comr Fred Doc Nwaozor
Follow: @mediambassador        

Where went Capt Iheanacho?

WHERE WENT CAPT IHEANACHO?

     

The last time I checked, I was of the opinion that sometimes an inquiry might be rational but inconsequential. This very one, which is spontaneous, is undoubtedly rational and consequential owing to the fact that it came at the apt moment. Naturally, I’m not the inquisitive type but in a critical situation of this kind, I often consider it necessary to do otherwise.

     

Prior to his nomination for a ministerial position in 2008 during the reign of the Late Umaru Musa Yar’dua, the name ‘Capt Emmanuel Iheanacho’ was relatively unknown in the Nigeria’s political terrain. Thereafter on 6^th of April 2010, he was appointed as the Interior Minister under the Goodluck Jonathan led administration; though he was later suspended for a reason best known to the President, probably political reasons. It was when he was the Minister of Interior that he made his dream to govern Imo State known to Imolites and Nigerians at large.  

    

He was really popular within that short while. His popularity might not be unconnected to the melodrama displayed by the then Imo State House of Assembly, perhaps by the effort of the state government ably led by Chief Ikedi Ohakim. The said legislators were looking for a means to recall him as the Interior Minister - a targeted punch that was traceable to the Minister’s intention to govern Imo State, thus they moved a vote of no-confidence against the gentleman. In their unanimous resolution, they enjoined the sitting President to urgently adhere to their outcry.

    

In regard to the baseless and uncalled agitation, I published a piece entitled, ‘The Imo Assembly and their Makosa dance’. Though the outcry, which lacked merit, was regarded as a trivial issue by the petitioned President – Dr Jonathan, but the group succeeded in overheating the polity. Contrary to their intention, rather than demoting his personality, they ended up making him more popular.

    

It was during the said era that I picked interest in his person, thus as a researcher I thought it wise to ascertain the reason his interest to govern Imo State was making other politicians panic. That was when I discovered the uniqueness he possesses as a Nigerian politician; since then, I’ve been taking cognizance of his footsteps when it calls for public outings.   

        

You would recall that immediately after the Imo gubernatorial polls, I did a piece on him entitled, ‘Iheanacho: refined politician from Imo State’ as published by the Sun Newspaper dated Wednesday May 13, 2015. In that piece which was occasioned by how the man in question conducted himself throughout the electioneering era, I made it clear that the mindset of an average Nigerian politician was preoccupied with deceit, insensitivity and arrogance, but that didn’t imply that there were no exemplary ones in their midst. Needless to say; amid the gangsters lies a saint.

    

I went further to state categorically and succinctly that as a citizen of Imo State and one who resides in the state, I’ve taken my time to study most of the politicians from the state and lately I came to a conclusion that Capt Iheanacho was one of the few politicians who were truly exemplary or worthy of emulation.

    

Candidly, I never intended to sound personal but I wish to seize this golden opportunity to state that people like Capt Iheanacho are not meant to be found in a political oblivion; they are meant at all times to contribute actively towards restructuring the Nigerian state in its entirety, especially at this moment the country is damn in need of respectable, distinguished and well experienced individuals.

    

This very piece was informed by the fact that the Imo, specifically Emekuku, born politician is currently relatively scarce in the Nigeria’s polity and the scenario is deeply telling on my person likewise any other stakeholder who comprehends the essence of statesmanship in nation building.

    

Capt Iheanacho whom I invariably refer to as an astute politician and industrialist ought to acknowledge that those who love him are not in any way enjoying his absence. Someone like him doesn’t need to be accustomed to a particular political party, although it pays for any politician to be an ardent member and supporter of a certain party; hence, we expect him to participate actively towards ushering good governance to the electorate irrespective of the political party at the helm of affairs.

    

In view of this assertion, I plead with the Owelle Rochas Okorocha led administration to extend its tentacles to such statesmen as Capt Iheanacho. Even the Mohammadu Buhari led administration isn’t left out in this plea. Let the respective governments be participatory to enable other well meaning citizens key into the system with the sole aim of ensuring that the overall Imolites or Nigerians as the case may be, are duly rescued or toward ushering in the awaited change respectively.

    

To other politicians; I challenge you to work towards making a good name rather than tussling over wealth or trivial issues. We must note that, unlike before, an average Nigerian citizen is now politically aware, thus can’t be deceived again by any politician parading himself as a saint when he knows within him that he’s nothing but a gangster. Mind you; no gender is exempted in this regard.

     

To say the least; Capt Emmanuel Iheanacho is unarguably a fascinatingly quintessential Nigeria’s ego. I must confess; I don’t know about his personal life but his public life is indeed near-perfect, hence worthy of emulation. I truly love his person, and he knows; the society really needs him, and he knows too. Someone ought to please tell him that I’m not enjoying the silence. Think about it!

 

Comr Fred Doc Nwaozor

Follow: @mediambassador