We transferred Mbaka to make him more useful- Church

The Catholic Church has explained that the transfer of firebrand priest, Fr Ejike Mbaka from Enugu Parish to Emene is to make him more useful.

In the words of the Secretary-General of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Reverend Father Ralph Madu, Mbaka's transfer was not a punishment but a normal church procedure.

“Mbaka’s transfer  is not an exception; the Bishop has the right to post any priest wherever he feels his service would be more useful to the church.

“ His posting should have been a privilege, not a punishment – which the Bishop can do because he has the power.

“If he (Mbaka) says it’s a punishment, then it’s open for further investigation. Posting is a regular thing, a priest can be transferred after two, three, four, or more years. It depends on the discretion of the Bishop.

“That ministry (Adoration Ministry) is his private ministry. It does not belong to the church. Overseeing a parish is a full time job. Overseeing a ministry is a bigger task. If the church decides to take him somewhere where he’ll have more time to carry out his ministry, how is it punitive? That should not be the language.

“He is supposed to be a missionary. What if the Bishop had closed down the ministry , which is within his power to do? Sometimes, transfers can be for the good of the priest as something can be going wrong which he might not be aware of. The Bishop is free to move any priest at any time, it is his prerogative.”

A lot of public outcry has greeted the transfer of Mbaka from the GRA Enugu Parish where he has developed a huge following.

He is expected to assume duties immediately at his new parish.

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Minister accuses Jonathan administration of buying substandard weapons

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed on Monday in Abuja described the weapons procured by the Jonathan administration as substandard.

He argued that such substandard weapons could not have been responsible for the recent successes of the military in counter insurgency operations. 

Mohammed said that the statement attributed to former President Goodluck Jonathan in which he claimed that the weapons he left behind were responsible for the military's recent successes was unfortunate.

He stressed that the present administration owes Nigerians a duty to put the records straight since the issues raised by the former president were matters of public interest.

His words:
“The weapons, munitions and equipment which the former president said he bought were refurbished and lacked the basic components and spare parts. Additionally, the ammunition bought for both high calibre and small weapons have mostly expired, are incompatible with weapons and grossly inadequate.

“It is pertinent to state that the ammunition he was referring to were back loaded because they explode within the barrel when fired, thus leading to deaths and injuries among soldiers.

“The situation was so pathetic that soldiers were often transported in Civilian JTF vehicles, civilian vehicles, trailers and water tankers when going to the theatres of operation.

“The revelations on the sorry state of things in the past, which have emanated from the investigative panel so far,point clearly to the kind of legacy bequeathed to this administration by the past government.

”That explains why troops remained largely static and were unable to effectively deploy to completely rout the Boko Haram terrorists in all their known enclaves. 

“The high-level of casualties sustained by our gallant soldiers was most unprecedented and cannot be compared to any known military operations in recent times, all because of the terrible state of affairs suffered by the military under the Jonathan administration.

“It is also clear, as has been shown so far by the outcome of the panel probing past arms deals, that the purchase of substandard weapons apparently resulted from the massive corruption that enveloped the deals, the kind of horrifying graft that saw the purchase of refurbished choppers that lacked rotors, or fighter jets that could not be deployed to the theatre of war because they were not up to par.

“The needless loss of lives of many of our gallant troops, resulting from the lack of standard weaponry and low morale in the past, is not a matter to be trivialised under any circumstance.”

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This masquerade trekked 200km to celebrate new Kogi governor

ABUJA
Even masquerades love politics, lol. This masquerade trekked over 200km from Abuja to Okene, just to celebrate the newly sworn in Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello.

Photo credits. The Punch/Gbenga Odogun

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New tariff regime to meter all customers - NERC

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC says that the new tariff regime which came into effect on February 1st is designed to have all customers metered within one year, thus eliminating estimated billing.

The Acting Director General of the Commission, Dr Anthony Akah told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN that “the new tariff, besides eliminating fixed charge, has a robust mechanism to ensure that DISCOs (Distribution Companies) fully meter their consumers and eliminate ‘crazy’ billing within one year."

He said that the new tariff would protect consumers, allow efficient billing and fast track the development of the economy.

He added that the new tariff regime has eliminated fixed charge and will ensure that DISCOs do not connect new customers without first providing them with meters.

The new tariff regime according to the commission is designed to encourage more investors to participate in the power sector.

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Another bomb blast averted in Maiduguri.

Security personnel have neutralized Improvised Explosive Devices, IEDs planted at the Pilgrims Welfare Board in Maiduguri.

The Borno State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Victor Isuku told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN on Monday that the bombs were suspected to have been planted by Islamist terror group, Boko Haram.

“I can confirm that it was a joint police/military operation that demobilised the IEDs but thank God, no live was lost or injuries recorded, “ he said.

NAN reports that about 20 people were killed in Chibok, Borno State last month when three female suicide bombers detonated their explosive devices at the local business market.

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Mbaka's transfer influenced by external forces - APC

The All Progressives Congress, APC has said that the transfer of outspoken Catholic priest and Head of the Adoration Ministries, Enugu has more to it than meets the eye.

Following Mbaka's farewell speech in which he said that he would suffer a lot because of the transfer, the APC said that the matter was beyond the routine transfer of priests. 

The APC added that the fiery priest was being punished for his prophesies which have proved to be divinely inspired.

The party expressed its reservation in a statement signed by its South-East Caucus spokesman, Mr. Osita Okechukwu,

“Our people need more liberation clergy, especially ones endowed with healing powers like Mba­ka. The liberation clergy were instrumental in returning Latin American countries back to democracy in the ’70s and ’80s. They pulled down Pino­chet in Chile and toppled dictators across the globe. We should harvest and culture them instead of hounding them.

“Whereas we accept that the transfer of priests is a routine exercise of the great Catholic Church; however, we do not wholly accept a situation where the church allows external forces to influence transfers as the Mbaka case suggests. Otherwise, ,future liberation clergy who speak truth to power will be hamstrung to the detriment of the society.”

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Mbaka's transfer influenced by external forces - APC

The All Progressives Congress, APC has said that the transfer of outspoken Catholic priest and Head of the Adoration Ministries, Enugu has more to it than meets the eye.

Following Mbaka's farewell speech in which he said that he would suffer a lot because of the transfer, the APC said that the matter was beyond the routine transfer of priests. 

The APC added that the fiery priest was being punished for his prophesies which have proved to be divinely inspired.

The party expressed its reservation in a statement signed by its South-East Caucus spokesman, Mr. Osita Okechukwu,

“Our people need more liberation clergy, especially ones endowed with healing powers like Mba­ka. The liberation clergy were instrumental in returning Latin American countries back to democracy in the ’70s and ’80s. They pulled down Pino­chet in Chile and toppled dictators across the globe. We should harvest and culture them instead of hounding them.

“Whereas we accept that the transfer of priests is a routine exercise of the great Catholic Church; however, we do not wholly accept a situation where the church allows external forces to influence transfers as the Mbaka case suggests. Otherwise, ,future liberation clergy who speak truth to power will be hamstrung to the detriment of the society.”

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