I remember a particular incident in Enugu some years back. It was in the thick of the adoration saga, which pitted Rev. Father Ejike Mbaka against then Enugu State Governor, Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani. We were invited to a press briefing by a very popular priest ostensibly on the side of his brother priest. I cant recall the full details now. But it had to do with an attack at a parish house and an attempt to kill some of the priest, a fallout of the prevailing political macabre dance. I was not confounded by the rather eerie and outlandish details of the said attack than I was of the injunction by our host that no questions should be asked. I was simply flabbergasted. Not with the obvious loopholes in the priests story, which my two-year old daughter could spot effortlessly. Suffice it to say that we obeyed. In spite of myself, I particularly pandered towards my religious rather than professional inclination and duty of insisting on asking questions at least to clear the air on some of the particularly glaring wacky claims. Im a Catholic. I think I dumped that story because of its sheer incredulity. I was to hear more incredulous ones thereafter, one of which was an encounter where the same Mbaka was ambushed at GRA Enugu and his vehicle rained with bullets, yet he left the scene without a scratch. Dont get me wrong. I believe God can do anything. If Jesus could raise Lazarus from the dead days after his corpse was smelling already, and Himself rose from the grave after three days, what is impossible for God? I have seen accident scenes where even an ant wouldnt have survived, yet without casualties, which to me had no other interpretation than Gods intervention. Im a beneficiary of many miracles myself. What am I driving at? I have always been hamstrung joining issues with priests, especially Catholic priests because of my upbringing. In fact I had found some space in my heart to accommodate some of the tales I narrated above in spite of what my head tells me as a result of this. But I must confess that the Mbakas of this world are not helping matters. Imagine the latest controversy! Somehow, something has prevented me from reacting until I read Uche Ezechukwus take and the reaction it has been generating. I couldnt agree more with this gifted writer about the embarrassment I have felt ever since Mbakas obvious doublespeak, which I believe is the long and short of that enchanting and well-defined treatise. What is more. I have read somewhere about Mbaka claiming that hes getting death threats already. Again, Im smelling another Enugu scenario of claims and counter-claims, a clearly unhealthy and needless embarrassing situation for us ardent faithful. What with the the opposing views coming from some brother priests capable of degenerating into a roforofo fight in which the Catholic Church in particular and Christendom in general will be the loser? I would have been more comfortable if not for the fact of this particular case. How could the God we know is ever constant speak to Mbaka about the invincibility of President Goodluck Jonathan at night only to reverse Himself in the morning. What did the President do wrong or his opponent, Maj. General Mohammadu Buhari do right that our all-knowing God wasnt aware of to send such conflicting messages through his chosen one? God almighty, you cannot be mocked. We leave all these in your holy hand.
Posted on: Mon, 05 Jan 2015 15:48:01 +0000
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