The Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra and the Independent Peoples of Biafra have taken Enugu-based Catholic Priest, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, to the cleaners over his comments on the recent pro-Biafra protests in the South East.
Father Mbaka had described the protests as evil during his sermon at the Adoration Night held from Fridaynight till Saturday morning.
But MASSOB in a statement on Sunday described Mbaka’s comments as insensitive and unguided.
The Director of Information of a faction of MASSOB, Uchenna Madu, said the condemnation of the struggle was “selfish and shameful. How can a revered Igbo clergy man descend so low in making such a condemnable statement few days after President’s Buhari’s wife visited him.
“Mr President should be aware that no money given to Mbaka, persuasion, personal friendship with him can ever frustrate or diminish the rising status, consciousness and global reawakening/acceptance of Biafra. A man who speaks with both sides of the mouth at a time is a hypocrite and is not worth to be trusted. The Igbo christians, catholics and even the Pope will prove Mbaka wrong. Many Igbo clergymen including the Catholic priests are not in support of Mbaka’s government paid anti-Biafran comment.
“This why the Igbo youth and other citizens have lost confidence/trust on many Igbo leaders in Nigeria. Biafra agitators are more determined to sacrifice our shops, businesses, jobs, comfort and even the supreme price for the sake of our freedom. Mbaka should be aware that even during our peaceful/non violence demonstrations, the agitators, sympathizers and Biafran patronized his products including his sachet water and yogurts. Mbaka’s business boomed as the protests lasted.”
IPOB, in its reaction, said the Biafra ideology has come to stay.
Its Deputy Leader, Uche Mefor, said: “Biafra is more than money!”
Mefor noted that the youths are protesting against injustice, oppression and subjugation, which is motivating them to seek their freedom.
He further wondered why Mbaka, who is a priest, could not find courage to condemn government’s extrajudicial detention of the founder of Radio Biafra, Nnaamdi Kanu.
He also advised him to refute his statement immediately if he was misquoted.