The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has dissociated itself from the New Year speech made by popular Enugu-based catholic priest, Ejike Mbaka, urging his congregation not re-elect president Jonathan into office.
Speaking to ThisDay on behalf of CNBC, the body's president and Archbishop of Jos, Ignatius Kaigama said Nigerians should avoid hasty generalization, as the statement of one Catholic priest cannot be taken to represent the voices of more than 30 million Catholics in Nigeria.
Archbishop Kaigama said Nigerians should avoid making 'unguided statements' and 'hasty generalization' on national issues like the 2015 general election adding that it is completely out of place for a Catholic priest to be partisan.
“There are more than 30 million Catholics in Nigeria, Fr Mbaka is just one Catholic, if he makes a statement, it cannot be the voices of more than 30 million Nigerian Catholics speaking.
“So Nigerians should avoid hasty generalisation. Mbaka cannot speak for the church, only the CBCN can speak for the church. Those who are complaining, should go to Fr Mbaka and find out why he is saying what he is saying,” Kaigama said.
Kaigama added, “I tell you, even the Canon Law forbid a priest to engage in partisan politics.”
When the Archbishop was asked if Mbaka would be sanctioned for hhis comments, he said: “If the law has been abused, we will ensure that we enforce the law. In this case, it is not the Catholic church; the church did not send him to say those things.
“Mbaka belongs to a diocese, so if the Bishop finds out that he has fallen out of line, the Bishop can call him to order,” he said.
“Mbaka is just expressing his opinion, if we want to make a political statement, we know how to do it. That we keep quiet and we are marginalised, does not mean we don’t have strength. With more than 30 million Catholics, we have the strength."
The Archbishop of Jos argued that there was no public uproar when the same Mbaka assured the first lady of continuity.
Meanwhile in another interview with Catholic Bishop of Abuja Metropolitan See, John Onaiyekan, he said given the rules of the church, Fr. Mbaka ought to be sanctioned.
Cardinal Onaiyekan also distanced the Catholic church from Father Mbaka's statement saying:
“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. 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.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if most people are not happy with the statement he made. From my reactions, you should see that I do not agree with him. I don’t believe a priest should be doing that.
“But, like I said, Mbaka is a priest of his own type. If he was in my archdioceses I will 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,” the Cardinal added.
Onaiyekan, rather maintained that Mbaka had earlier made insinuations that President Jonathan’s wife, Mrs. Patience Jonathan, will continue in office.
“I hope that people are not thinking that we are sending Mbaka to talk rubbish, how can they think that? If you want to hear anything even not official but at least, authoritative, then, you listen to the bishops. Rather than him and I don’t see any bishop talking that way.”
Father Mbaka's speech had generated public outcry, especially, among the Catholics South-east and South-south parts of the country where President Jonathan has a strong support base.
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