Nigerians on the micro-blogging site, Twitter have criticised popular Catholic priest and Spiritual Director of Adoration Ministry Enugu, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, for referring to the presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP) Peter Obi, as a “stingy man”.

Majority of the tweets claimed that the cleric tagged the presidential candidate a “stingy man” because he (Mbaka) could not “blackmail Obi emotionally”.

While speaking during one of his programmes in Enugu, the cleric said it would be impossible for Obi to become President, adding an old man president is better than a ‘stingy young man’.

He said: “A stingy man, that cannot give people his money, with this hunger ravaging the land, and you are saying he is the one you want. You want to die of hunger? Are you people insane? Where is the Holy Spirit?

“It is now that Atiku is seriously contesting for President; now that he is contesting without Peter Obi; it is now that he is serious.

“We want somebody that is serious. Unless Peter comes here to kneel, if he becomes president, he will close down this ministry. What we are doing is spiritual.

“Listen, a good old man is better than a young wicked man; Peter Obi is going nowhere as far as God lives. If Igbos want a representative, it is not someone like Peter Obi.

“I should not have talked but I saw my video going round everywhere as if Fr. Mbaka wholeheartedly came out and apologised.

“No, I didn’t apologise wholeheartedly, it was out of duress. I had to obey my Bishop. In obedience I had to; it is not of my volition. I did it because I am a Catholic priest, my Bishop said, do it, my own is ‘Yes my Lord’.

“I did not say he(Obi) is a bad man; I said he is a stingy man. A hungry man wants someone that is generous; the man has so much money, but he is ‘I, me, myself’. But that money will not be useful to him. I am very happy now that I have spoken out. That apology is a poisonous curse against Peter Obi.

“If he is wise he should have come here after that apology to say he is sorry but he waited. Anybody supporting him is wasting his money, he is going nowhere,”

But Nigerians on Twitter knocked Mbaka following his comments, asking him to remain apolitical.

Sir David Onyemaizu said: “I can only blame whoever takes religious leaders like Father Mbaka seriously. Here was a man that said that Buhari is the Messiah of the country. After they stopped greasing his palm, he stopped supporting Buhari. Only a dumb@ss would follow what he says about Peter Obi.

Chlorpheniramine #EndSARS tweeted: “Father Mbaka has never commented on ASUU strike, the killings in the country, the Banditry, current Inflation, the evil APC government, owed salaries of civil servants and general chaos in the country. All he needs is money from @PeterObi .A proof that Not all thieves carry gun!

Louis said: “I am a Catholic and a staunch one at that, but this man right here is a stain on the Eucharistic body of Christ. There is no difference between Mbaka and the Sons of Eli who were cursed by GOD for their greed and covetousness.

Everest added: “Mbaka is wrong. Peter Obi is a prudent man. Does not believe in wasting public funds. He is not a stingy man. What we need now is a prudent individual. We have a terrible spending problem. Printing money like there’s no tomorrow. Inflation is now at 17.1%. Think am.

Justice Jide said: “Being my pastor, priest, Spiritual leader etc doesn’t necessarily make you smarter than me. I won’t challenge your utterances, but I’ll definitely not believe or do it cos you’re standing on the altar in white. Mbaka is bad news both to Igbos and the Catholic church.”

Ada Idemmili OGBANJE added: “People like Mbaka doesn’t want Nigeria to work, because if Nigeria start working, most of you will stop sleeping in prayer houses or even donate your hard earned money as tithe and seed sowing. Travel outside Africa, the you will understand na condition make you dey go adoration. MBAKA rejecting Peter Obi shows Peter Obi is the right candidate. IN 2015, Mbaka said Buhari is Nigeria answered prayer. Now you guys have seen that Mbaka’s prophecy is fake.

JADON said: “Election is around the corner, Mbaka has resurfaced again just to mislead his gullible followers. He should be reminded that we don’t rate him again.

Ome n’uko said: “Fr Mbaka said a “stingy man can’t be the Nigerian President.” This man should stop disgracing Catholic Church biko nụ! Bishop Onaga should be warning this man.

Felix! Area said: “Fr Mbaka is a perfect example of how you can be a priest and still consistently talk rubbish in public. Serious Catholic priests and Bishops are advocating for people to go get their PVC and vote for credible candidate (whom Obi is), but here you are.” (The Nation)

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