The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been accused of masterminding the removal of Reverend Father Ejike Mbaka from his former station.

Members of the Adoration Ministry in Enugu, on Sunday, February 14,  accused the PDP fowl play in the transfer of the charismatic clergyman.

Mbaka was transferred from the Christ the King Parish, GRA, in Enugu metropolis, to Our Lady Parish, Emene, on the outskirts of the Coal city.

The Punch reports that his transfer was part of a general redeployment of priests by the Enugu Catholic diocese, headed by Bishop Calistus Onaga.

However, while handing over to his successor at the CKC, the fiery priest had insinuated that the transfer was in line with a witch-hunt against him, and raised the alarm that he was going to suffer in the new parish.

Members of his religious organisation have accused the PDP, and the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, of influencing the transfer.

In a statement signed by Kingsley Eze, Sunday Ukam, (Enugu State Adorer), Adedije Wale, (Osun state adorer), and others, the members of the Ministry insisted that their spiritual director’s transfer was not in order.

The furious worshipers accused the bishop of the Enugu Catholic diocese, Onaga, of acting according to a script written by Mbaka’s enemies.

They wondered why Onaga should decide to transfer Mbaka from the CKC, after previous bishops had allowed him to stay in the parish for about 20 years.

“What Bishop Michael Eneja saw and allowed, Bishop Gbuji protected and watered but Bishop Onaga uprooted in a most barbaric and despondent manner,” they said, referring to the transfer.

They claimed that the bishop was working with unnamed ‘stalwarts’ of the PDP, who they said were unhappy over Mbaka’s role in the last presidential elections.

Mbaka had predicted President Muhammadu Buhari’s victory, and in a message entitled ‘From Good Luck to Bad Luck’, urged Nigerians to vote for the APC candidate.

The Adoration Ministry members added: “Most Nigerians know that the uncommon silence of Bishop Onaga over Fr. Mbaka’s prophesy of the defeat of the Goodluck Jonathan’s PDP-led government by President Muhammadu Buhari was not really for nothing.

“He was just waiting for the time to carry out the script of the stalwarts of the overthrown party.

“Barely few weeks before the posting, the voice of a faction of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, a socio-cultural group, was heard barking at Fr. Mbaka to ‘shut up’ over his prophesies.

“And now comes the posting done in such a manner as to really shut Fr. Mbaka up.

“Sources close to Bishop Onaga disclosed to us that the Bishop said he transferred Fr. Mbaka out of pressure from Ohanaeze and PDP.

“The posting is not Holy Ghost oriented but PDPnized and Ohanaezenized, and any cleric be him pastor, bishop or cardinal that supported this is enemy of the Holy Spirit.”

Further condemning the transfer, they said members of the Ministry, who are based outside the country, have been calling to express their anger at the development.

They however, warned of their readiness to carry out a “religious revolution” over the matter.

Meanwhile, the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), has condemned the recent criticism of its decision to transfer Rev Father Mbaka.

Critics had at various points attributed the transfer to Mr Mbaka’s repeated sermons where he condemned the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, and proclaimed a revelation that the former President will lose the 2015 presidential election.

Mbaka had not only stated ahead of the 2015 election that Mr Jonathan would lose, but condemned the former president’s performance in office particularly on corruption matters.

When Jonathan lost in the election, Mbaka’s courage was praised by President Muhammadu Buhari, who received the priest at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The fiery priest’s subsequent transfer was condemned by critics including the Southeast chapter of Nigeria’s ruling party, APC, who claimed Mr. Mbaka was being victimised.

In its earlier reaction to controversies trailing the transfer, Secretary-General of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Ralph Madu, told newsmen that the transfer is a “normal church procedure.”

Addressing the church at its opening session of the CBCN on Sunday, President of the Conference, Ignatius Kaigama, condemned Mbaka’s prophecies stressing that the church and particularly its priests and leaders must avoid the what he regarded as the “melodramatic displays that resembles modern broadway shows.”

“Those priests who tend to compete with so-called trendy pastors to dream dreams, see visions and utter prophecies are reminded that not all dreams, visions and prophecies are revelations from God.

“They are sometimes the product of one’s psychological disposition, brain waves or even the result of mental fatigue and should not be confused with absolute reality,” said Mr Kaigama, a bishop.

Premium times reports that he called on leaders in all facets of the nation to work for the unity of Nigeria.

“We need to think positively about the Nigerian project and act in a manner that builds rather than destroys,” he stated.

Also in his brief remark at the introduction of guests, the assistant secretary general of the CBCN and Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, Felix Ajakaiye, said: “When I am transferred I am transferred; no sensation should be attached.”

Speaking earlier at the sermon, during the opening mass, Bishop of Abuja Arch Diocese, John Onaiyekan, said Nigerians have a right to be angry at the ‘criminal corruption,’ which led to diversion of funds meant for the purchase of arms, stressing that it is the hope of all well meaning Nigerians that such fraudulent acts are now a thing of the past.

“Our gallant troops must never again be left with inadequate resources to carry out the dangerous acts imposed on them on our behalf,” he said.

Onaiyekan called on the current administration to keep up its legal efforts to thoroughly investigate the crimes of the past, transparently prosecute accused persons and hold the guilty accountable according to the law.

He reiterated his earlier call for collaboration with the church and religious bodies in the effort to bring about a transformation of minds and action by Nigerians.

As part of its annual practice, Onaiyekan said the CBCN will make suggestions at the end of its session on January 17, on ways to move the nation forward.

It will be recalled that Mbaka was criticised by former special adviser to Goodluck Jonathan on media and publicity, Dr Reuben Abati.

Dr Abati lambasted the Catholic cleric over his reaction on being transferred to a different station.

The former spokesman advised the Catholic church to transfer Fr Mbaka to the Sambisa forest, the den of jihadist group- Boko Haram.