Buhari hails Father Mbaka’s courage, patriotism in run-up to 2015 elections

President Muhammadu Buhari has commended fiery Catholic priest, Ejike Mbaka, for his patriotism in the run-up to the 2015 general elections, saying his courage has earned him a mark in the sands of time.

In a statement Thursday to congratulate the leader of the Adoration Ministries Enugu, Nigeria, on the occasion of his 20th priestly ordination, the President said history would favour Mr. Mbaka for courageously speaking truth to power, even at great risks.

In the statement signed by Garba Shehu, his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr. Buhari said Mr. Mbaka chose the part of honesty, despite realising that it could attract hostility from those he described as “leaders detached from reality”.

The President said the priest’s courageous actions, while the Peoples Democratic Party was still in power, was clear evidence that religious leaders are the custodian of truth and morals in society.

He said Mr. Mbaka’s decision to identify with the masses, and uphold the struggle for improved governance was enviable.

According to the statement, the President was extremely impressed by the priest’s sincere comments and patriotic disposition over the state of the nation at the time.

The statement prayed God to grant Mr. Mbaka greater wisdom, good health and long life, as well as a continued resolve to serve humanity.

Father Mbaka had on December 31, 2014, told Nigerians to use the then approaching general election to vote then President Goodluck Jonathan out.

Speaking to thousands of parishioners, he said then that the president had failed to stem the tide of insecurity and corruption in the country.

Mr. Mbaka said although Mr. Buhari, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, is a Muslim, he would bring the needed change in Nigeria.

But on January 6, 2015, the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, John Onaiyekan, called for sanctions against Mr. Mbaka, saying that based on the rules of the church, the priest ought to be sanctioned for his outburst.

He criticised the cleric for going overboard in his sermon and insinuating that the Jonathan administration was plagued with “bad luck” and poor performance.

Cardinal Onaiyekan disassociated the Catholic Church in Nigeria from Father Mbaka’s statements.

“Mbaka will take responsibilities for his own actions. I do not believe in my mind that the way things are in Nigeria, any Catholic priest has the mandate to decide which of the political contestants should be voted for,” Cardinal Onaiyekan said at the time.

“What most of us will do is to tell people to vote according to their conscience and then, we tell the authorities to allow people to vote freely and fairly.

“Like I said, Mbaka is a priest of his own type. If he was in my archdiocese, I would have sanctioned him long ago for the kind of things and utterances that he makes.

“But, he is not under my diocese; he has a bishop to handle that if there is any need. I hope that people are not thinking that we are sending Mbaka to talk rubbish.”