Ejike Camillus Anthony Ebenezer Mbaka, popularly known as Father Mbaka, is a Nigerian Catholic priest, musician and the founder of Adoration Ministries in

Enugu Enugu () verbally pronounced as "Enụgwụ" by the Igbo indigenes is a state in the South-East geopolitical zone of Nigeria, bordered to the north by the states of Benue and Kogi, Ebonyi State to the east and southeast, Abia State to the so ...

, Nigeria. He is noted for being one of the most prominent religious leaders in the south-eastern part of Nigeria.

Early life and background

Mbaka was born in Amata Ituku in

Awgu Awgu is a Local Government Area (LGA) in Enugu State, Nigeria. Its headquarters is situated in Awgu Town, Enugu, Awgu Town, it is also the headquarters of Roman Catholic Diocese of Awgu, Awgu Catholic Diocese -the Catholic Cathedral is said to ...

Local Government Area of Enugu State, where he grew up with his family who were palm wine tappers. He attended St. Vincent's Secondary School, Agbogugu in Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State for his secondary education.

Priesthood

Mbaka attended Seat of Wisdom Seminary, Owerri, Imo State and St Joseph's Seminary

Ikot Ekpene Ikot Ekpene, also known as The Raffia City, is a historic town in the south-southern state of Akwa Ibom, Nigeria. It is the political and cultural capital of the Annang ethnic group in Nigeria (Nair, 1972). The town is located on the A34 ...

Akwa Ibom Akwa Ibom is a state in the South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria. It borders Cross River State to the east, Rivers State and Abia State to the west and north-west, and the Atlantic Ocean to the south. The state takes its name from the Qua ...

State, where he was trained for priesthood. On 29 July 1995, He was ordained a priest of the

Catholic Church The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...

Controversies

Alleged support of Buhari in the 2015 general elections

On 31 December 2014, Mbaka told a congregation that the then president

Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan (born 20 November 1957) is a Nigerian politician who served as the president of Nigeria from 2010 to 2015. He lost the 2015 presidential election to former military head of state General Muhammadu Buhari and w ...

had failed to stem the tide of insecurity and corruption in the country, and urged them to vote the administration out. Mbaka's call for a change in administration is in tandem with his priestly-prophetic ministry. Mbaka has been consistent in directing, advising and forewarning every administration in Nigeria since he was ordained a priest.

Seeking compensation for supporting Buhari

On 28 April 2021, Mbaka called on President

Muhammadu Buhari Muhammadu Buhari (born 17 December 1942) is a Nigerian politician who served as the president of Nigeria from 2015 to 2023. A retired Nigerian army major general, he was the military head of state of Nigeria from 31 December 1983 to 27 Augu ...

to resign from his office over the worsening insecurities in Nigeria. In response to Mbaka's call, the Nigerian Presidency released a statement through

Garba Shehu Mallam Garba Shehu born on (November 27, 1959) is a Nigerian Journalist and politician who serves as the Senior Special Assistant, Media and Publicity to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari. He was the president of N ...

that Mbaka is allegedly angry because President Buhari ignored his request for contracts after he asked for contracts as compensation for his support in 2015 and 2019.

Rumor of Rivalry with Ebube Muonso

It was once alleged that there occurred incidents of rivalry, but this was debunked by both Mbaka and Fr Emmanuel Obimma (Ebube Muonso). Mbaka had been largely criticized for participating in political matters of the country instead of focusing on his religious call, when he publicly released a campaign statement against the presidential candidate Peter Obi. Mbaka went on an exil as instructed by his Bishop for some months, and was forbidden from participating in political matters in any form.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mbaka, Father Living people Nigerian Roman Catholics 21st-century Nigerian clergy Igbo people People from Enugu Year of birth missing (living people)