Rev. Father Mbaka
Ohanaeze Youth Council has defended fiery Catholic priest, Rev
Father Ejike Mbaka’s recent controversial statements on the 2019 general
election which has drawn wide condemnations in some quarters, according
to The Nation.
Mbaka had on Sunday predicted doom’s day for President Muhammadu
Buhari and the Presidential candidate of the PDP, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku,
saying that none of them would win, without mentioning the eventual
winner.
He also criticized the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Vice
Presidential flag bearer, Peter Obi for not doing anything for his
church despite his support in the past while he was governor of Anambra
state.
Mbaka’s statements have drawn widespread criticisms from Nigerians
who accused him of selling his blessings to the highest bidder.
But in a statement on Tuesday in Abakaliki the Ebonyi state
capital, after its meeting with 49 affiliated groups in the South east,
OYC argued that the Spiritual Director of Adoration Ministries’
statement were in order.
The statement was signed by Comrade Obinna Achionye, Deputy
President General, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council worldwide, Rev Bobby
Ezemonye , Chairman of all Youth leaders, Dr Helen Ogbonnaya President,
South East Women Professionals, Mr Chidera Uduocha, President, Igbo
Students movement and Mazi Okemiri Alex, President, World Igbo Youth
Council.
The group while describing the attack on Obi as unfortunate and
avoidable, urged the former governor to change his approach to campaign
issues in other not to repeat the electoral loss of the PDP in 2015 when
he was the campaign Director of the party for the entire Southern
Nigeria.
The Group said: “Ohaneze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide with
her affiliated groups and Igbo groups insists that Former Governor Peter
Obi and PDP Vice Presidential candidate’s embarrassment at Adoration
Ministry during the annual Adoration Ministry baarzar at Enugu is
unfortunate and avoidable but call on Obi to change strategy in approach
to campaign issues so as not to repeat the electoral loss of 2015
Presidential election where he was the PDP campaign director for entire
Southern Nigeria in which the South East produced poor results, and also
the last Anambra election where PDP came a distant 3rd”.
“The coalition of Igbo groups and OYC agreed that Rev Fr
Mbaka’s fearless stand to both Peter Obi and Kano Gov Ganduje to send
messages to Atiku And President Buhari is in order, and hail Sen Hope
Uzodinma”.
The group noted that it will make its stand on the 2019 election in
January after Fr Mbaka’s new year prophesy on the 31st of December and
after its negotiations with stakeholders and contestants.
“We call for calm in this festive period and urge the security
Agencies especially the military to be friendly with Ndigbo as we have
set up machinery to assist the security Agents to curb crime and
kidnapping during this period”.