By Nene Daniels<\/b><\/p>\n
These are indeed interesting end times! How else does one explain the words: <\/span>\u201cI know how to quench his fire, just wait and see!\u201d<\/span> These rather reckless and threatening remarks, currently trending, were allegedly made by Catholic charismatic leader Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka of the Adoration Ministry, Enugu, and directed at fellow man of God, Evangelist Chukwuebuka Anozie Obi, the Spiritual Director of Zion Prayer Movement Outreach (ZPMO), headquartered in Okota, Lagos.<\/span><\/p>\n This latest outburst is part of a series of increasingly disturbing comments and veiled threats from Fr. Mbaka over recent months.<\/span><\/p>\n Interestingly, both Fr. Mbaka and Evangelist Ebuka share the same ethnic background and similar religious roots within the Catholic fold. They both lead semi-autonomous congregations and have attained notable levels of fame and success. However, the similarities end there. While Fr. Mbaka\u2019s influence remains largely centered in Enugu, Evangelist Ebuka Obi\u2019s ministry boasts a growing global reach and is arguably one of the fastest-growing Christian ministries in Nigeria today.<\/span><\/p>\n The rapid growth of Evangelist Ebuka\u2019s ministry and the volume of testimonies and miracles associated with it are believed by some observers to be a possible source of envy and rivalry. In 2023, former Anambra State Governor and prominent political figure, Peter Obi, paid a courtesy visit to Evangelist Ebuka\u2014a move that, according to sources, did not sit well with Fr. Mbaka, who has previously faced disciplinary actions from the Catholic Church due to his controversial political utterances.<\/span><\/p>\n Ironically, during Fr. Mbaka\u2019s turbulent times, when he was placed under disciplinary supervision by the Catholic hierarchy, Evangelist Ebuka publicly stood by him and called for a quick resolution and restoration. Again, in 2015, following Fr. Mbaka\u2019s infamous declaration labeling then-President Jonathan as a curse and President Buhari as a \u201cmessiah,\u201d it was Evangelist Ebuka who extended support to him. Yet, today, Fr. Mbaka appears to be openly antagonistic toward the same ally who once defended him.<\/span><\/p>\n Many Christian faithful are now expressing dismay at Fr. Mbaka\u2019s string of aggressive statements against Evangelist Ebuka Obi. These threats, seen as reckless and inflammatory, have caused alarm among members and supporters of the Zion Ministry. They are considered unbecoming of a religious leader who is expected to be a source of unity and peace within the Christian community.<\/span><\/p>\n Christian opinion leaders have stressed that since Fr. Mbaka holds no official position over Evangelist Ebuka, any input he wishes to make should be in a personal or advisory capacity\u2014not as one seeking control or superiority. Evangelist Ebuka cannot be held responsible for the personal grievances Fr. Mbaka might harbor against Peter Obi or any other public figure. The current escalation of hostilities is both unnecessary and regrettable.<\/span><\/p>\n In one of his threatening remarks, Fr. Mbaka reportedly referred to himself as a \u201cperfect penalty taker,\u201d clearly targeting Evangelist Ebuka. He also claimed he \u201cknows how to quench his fire\u201d\u2014statements described by various observers as provocative, excessive, and deeply concerning. Leaders across denominations have urged Fr. Mbaka to \u201ctread softly\u201d and consider the possible consequences of his words, especially should anything untoward happen.<\/span><\/p>\n This antagonism is particularly disheartening given the unwavering support Evangelist Ebuka offered during Fr. Mbaka\u2019s own crisis. The source of this growing hostility remains unclear, but it has prompted many to question the true motivations behind the priest\u2019s public outbursts.<\/span><\/p>\n While many Christians believe we are living in perilous times, must brothers rise against brothers? Are they not both working for the same Kingdom? As Paul plants and Apollos waters, is it not God who gives the increase?<\/span><\/p>\n Given the gravity of Fr. Mbaka\u2019s threats, many opinion leaders are calling on him to immediately cease and desist from making further inciting statements to avoid potential intervention by law enforcement agencies. In today\u2019s climate, threats to life are taken very seriously. Should any harm come to Evangelist Ebuka Obi, Fr. Mbaka could be held accountable. While fully trusting in God\u2019s protection, supporters of Evangelist Ebuka reaffirm their commitment to using every legal and civic means to safeguard their beloved spiritual leader.<\/span><\/p>\n At this juncture, I call on all well-meaning Nigerians, the broader Christian community, and relevant authorities to pay close attention to this troubling development. The safety and peace of Evangelist Ebuka Obi\u2014and indeed, of every Nigerian\u2014must be a matter of national concern.<\/span><\/p>\n As a concerned peacemaker, I appeal to all stakeholders and the general public to remain calm and prayerful. Let us encourage both spiritual leaders to pursue peace, embrace dialogue, and seek reconciliation in the true spirit of Christ.<\/span><\/p>\n Nene Daniels, a concerned Catholic faithful, wrote from Lagos.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" These are indeed interesting end times! How else does one explain the words: \u201cI know how to quench his fire, just wait and see!\u201d These rather reckless and threatening remarks, currently trending, were allegedly made by Catholic charismatic leader Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka of the Adoration Ministry, Enugu, and directed at fellow man of God, Evangelist Chukwuebuka Anozie Obi, the Spiritual Director of Zion Prayer Movement Outreach (ZPMO), headquartered in Okota, Lagos.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":24493,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[10918,10917],"class_list":["post-24492","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-opinion","tag-evangelist-ebuka-obi","tag-fr-mbaka"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/theblogonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24492"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/theblogonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/theblogonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theblogonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theblogonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=24492"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/theblogonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24492\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24496,"href":"https:\/\/theblogonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24492\/revisions\/24496"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theblogonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/24493"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/theblogonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=24492"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theblogonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=24492"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theblogonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=24492"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}