Rev Fr Mbaka's Adoration Ministry Parishioners cry out: We’re like orphans

The exit of Enugu Catholic fiery priest and Director of Adoration Ministry, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka from the Christ the King’s Parish, GRA, has not only left a vacuum in the church, the large compound of the church now looks empty.
An insider source also revealed that majority of the parishioners  might have also left with him, adding that the church is about to embark on house-to-house visitations to members to convince them to return to the parish.
Our source, a member of the church who would not want his name in print, also claimed that many of those attending church services since Mbaka was posted out are majorly people from the Matre Day Parish, Trans Ekulu where his successor, Rev. Fr. Theodore Ozoamalu, was transferred from.
Said the source: “It is a pitiable situation in our church; many of our people have moved with Fr. Mbaka; I can confirm to you that over 80 per cent of the parishioners have not been attending services here.”
He further revealed that many of the parishioners who sold olive oil and other items from have lost their jobs as a result of the transfer. The large crowd that thronged the church every Sunday and Wednesday has suddenly disappeared, giving way to near desolation and quietude.
“Even the blind can see that the place has lost its bubbling self,” said a parishioner. Evidently so; it no longer appears the same activity-filled CKC Catholic Parish. The big space with stadium-like stand used for adoration in the church, has suddenly become empty.
After about 20 years as a parish priest, Rev. Fr. Mbaka finally left the church a fortnight ago on transfer to Our Lady of Rosary Parish, Emene, a suburb of Enugu. The circunstances that preceded his transfer appeared controversial. While the church claimed it was a routine transfer, some people within and outside the church saw it as punitive, attributing it to his political stance and comments since the last general elections.
Almost homeless
True to his words while delivering his valedictory speech at his old parish shortly before he moved out, Mbaka could as well be said to be homeless. A visit to his new parish showed that since he arrived, not much has been seen of him at his new one-room apartment. A peep into the room revealed some of his luggage still occupying the larger space inside the single bedroom.
Further investigations revealed that the priest, who now spends more time at the permanent site of his adoration ministry, is like a homeless priest. It’s being said also that he is finding it difficult coping with his luggage, most of which has been taken to unidentified places for safe-keeping.
Mbaka had expressed fears over his accommodation and where to keep his ministry’s assets. “I know we are going to suffer between now and few months to come. I’m going to suffer. I am going to suffer because I have no place to lay my head. I am going to suffer because I have no place to keep the ministry’s assets. I know I am going to suffer…But Jesus said it to His apostles in John 16:20, ‘you will be sorrowful and the world will be rejoicing but very soon, I will turn your sorrows to joy. So I am waiting for that moment because for now I know we are going to suffer.
“The Adoration Ministry is passing through suffering right now; even though I have accepted it as the will of God; it is the will of God through suffering; it is a mega suffering. But however it is the grace of God will carry us all; even though some of you may pray that God should remove this thorn from us the scripture says ‘His grace is sufficient for us; for its even in your weakness that the power of God is demonstrated.
“And I am going to stay in one small room; that has only one small bed, and one small table and little toilet and bathroom. Where am I going to keep all the adoration assets? My clothing’s and my books I may keep in the car or somebody’s house, but where will I keep these assets that I have given to the Catholic Church of Enugu?
Between his old parish house and the new one
Mbaka’s new parish, Our Lady of Rosary Parish in Emene, is by far a smaller parish compared to the former Christ the kings Parish in the GRA. The former church is located in the heart of the town with a massive church building, which could hardly contain the congregation that thronged  the place because of his prophecies, healings and miracles.
The former church also has a large space which was designed as an extension of the church, especially, for his adoration ministry. Over the years, he has made the place conducive for worship and other ecclesiastical activities. He also built a school, which he said, was done to help maintain the church facilities even after he leaves the parish.
While he was solely in charge at his former church as parish priest, Mbaka is now under a parish priest who occupies the better part of the parish house, while he is allocated a room on the ground floor of the one-storey building.  The parish house in its entirety cannot be compared to the beautiful and expansive duplex he occupied while holding sway in his former parish.
Unlike his former church, which is located in a choice area of the Enugu, his present church stands on a dusty road occupying an expanse of land that may not be more than a plot of land.
Missed by his former church
To say that Rev. Fr. Mbaka is missed by his former parish is an understatement. From parishioners to hawkers who do business within the church premises, it is an endless tale of regrets. Most of the people were afraid to be quoted, because of the sensitivity and controversy surrounding the transfer.
Blessing Nwacukwu comes all the way from Eva Valley to worship at the Christ the King’s Church because of Fr. Mbaka. This fateful Monday morning, she had come to buy Mbaka’s olive oil only to be told that it was no longer sold in the parish. She was found lamenting the situation: “My brother, you can’t understand how I feel. How do I get the anointing oil? It means I have to travel all the way to Emene to buy it.” Reminded that olive oil is sold everywhere in town, she said Mbaka’s oil is different. “You don’t know how I feel. How do I go to Emene. It’s not all anointing oil you take. We miss him; even calling him on phone for prayers, your problems are solved. I don’t even know where he is in Emene. I can’t worship here any longer; I won’t come here again maybe when I have chance, I will worship at Emene.”
Another parishioner who prefers to be anonymous said: “Yesterday, I was at the adoration ground and I will continue to go there; I cannot stop going there; it’s not possible. So many things have been happening in that church and there appears to be division. So, some of us don’t want to get involved in whatever politics they are playing. The new priest has a new slogan for the church; when he says ‘Christ’, the congregation responds-‘The King, when we don’t see you, we look for you.’ He knows actually, he will go and look for his parishioners.
“Christ the King is a peculiar parish that Mbaka had become used to knows very well and how to handle the people. So, he doesn’t even bother. We have so many religious houses and everybody has the freedom of worship, yet the church was always full.”
Another parishioner, who also wanted to be anonymous, has this to say: “Our priest (Mbaka), was transferred on January 13.  Right now, we won’t mince words in saying that we miss him a lot, having stayed with him since the inception of the parish. He was the pioneer priest of our parish, Christ the King’s Parish. Starting from GTC when we were a Station until it became a parish; when the foundation stone was laid on of September 14, 1998, he had been our parish priest. Since then, he had pampered us as a father; he had been so good and so wonderful to the parishioners.
“Even most of us have benefitted from his being our priest. He sponsored many people in schools, paid hospital bills for the less-privileged –even those he didn’t know. He has been so wonderful and had been a good father to us all. Most often, when we had laities’ or diocesan meetings, he would quietly and graciously sponsor it; he doesn’t stress his parishioners. He single-handedly built the parish; even the school he now handed over, was his vision.
“The Catholic Church is a big umbrella and since the Bishop had said that he should move, he decided to be the obedient priest that he is. So, we have no option than to say that we miss and shall continue to miss him. Truthfully, things haven’t been the same and will never be the same.
Madam Nwankwo, an elderly woman who sells Okpa (a local delicacy) near the church, said it is a hopeless situation for her kind. “Yes, we learnt he has been transferred to Emene. It has been bad business since he left here because the crowd has reduced. If it were before, I would have finished selling and gone home. But you can see that we are now struggling to sell; I am thinking of what next to do, because it’s like the business here is closed.”
It’s our turn to enjoy –New parishioners
While the parishioners at Christ the King’s Church are lamenting the exit of their beloved priest, the people in Our Lady of Rosary Parish, Emene are celebrating their fortune. Although many of them have not encountered Father yet, they are happy that they do not have to travel to attend his church services and adoration.
Just like in his old church, many parishioners wouldn’t feel free discussing his transfer, which they believe is a sensitive matter. However, the few who spoke, said the Lord has decided to remember them.
Hyginus Tagbo, a parishioner said: “We are happy that he is here with us. The world turns around. We used to travel the distance to attend mass there; now he is close. Our Luck.
“Outspoken and truthful, not influenced by money or anything, we are happy to have him. And like I said, it is our turn to enjoy; we won’t even accept his going back to his old parish. Fr. Mbaka even sang it in his song, that the world turns around; this has turned to our favour. Even if there were plans to punish him, it has turned to our favour.
A woman parishioner who was so afraid to speak, managed to say: “It’s a great thing that we have Fr. Mbaka here. We used to travel to meet him, now he is here with us. He is an exceptional man of God with prophecies and miracles. He is an instrument of God and even if he is sent into the remotest village in the state, he will still be a great man of God. We thank God he is here with us in Emene.