Now I Respect Fr Mbaka More

AMAM B. ANUNOBI

I know your fist is already set to punch me but before you do that give me a little to hear me out.

I’m beginning to understand more why God said “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” (Is 55:8-9). I’m a Catholic Priest also in case you are not aware already. And by the special grace of God I met Fr. Mbaka as a Theologian in his third year in the Seminary precisely at St Joseph Major Seminary Ikot Ekpene while I came for Philosophy. Providence pitched us together at the same table with me as the lowest in class. That experience is enough for me to be grateful to God who shaped everything about life to me through him. As far as I am concerned his humility and confidence is second to none.

When I came to Enugu to do Theology, he was already a priest making great waves in Adoration Ministry and it was never surprising to me. Then came 2015 when he predicted that Buhari would win. At first, I did not take him serious and I have no reason to but it turned out to be true. When Buhari’s Administration became so bad, people started calling him (Mbaka) names, I really did not know what to say because it was very difficult for me to equate between the good man I met at Ikot Ekpene and Enugu that shaped me and the prophecy that seemed to be a doom. He was never a pessimistic being but a high class optimist which has shaped his vision.

I kept praying for understanding, which was given to me on Sunday. The First Reading in the Catholic Church was God’s anointing of a pagan King Cyrus in Isaiah 45:1-5. Then came the big question. Could it be that God has turned Muhammadu Buhari into a Pharaoh through whose stubbornness could result in the liberation of his people? Is he going to be a modern Cyrus whose inadvertent actions would change Nigeria?

Before Fr. Mbaka’s 2015 prophecy was Nigeria good? The answer is no except that we’re hoping that Goodluck Jonathan will get it right even though it was a day dream because we have already been divided along ethnic and religious lines that trust has taken a flight.

Let me say this. Mbaka’s prophecy has come to fulfillment through the Nigerian Youths. I felt so happy to see Christian Youth helping their Muslim Brothers to lay their mats for Jumaat Prayers on Friday as well as providing a decorum for them during the prayers. I have gone through their demands that did not consider ethnicity or religion. I am sure Mazi Nnamdi Kanu will equally be pleased because his prophesy too is being fulfilled.

The only thing remaining is for Buhari to completely become a Hero or a Villain in coming weeks. Should he come to the Youths and implement their demands by ignoring his bad advisers, he becomes a Hero. Should he stick to listening to the Group, who call themselves Presidency, he becomes a Villain, under whom the Nation collapsed. Whichever he chooses, Fr. Mbaka has remained a priest of the Most High God.

As for me, I stand with the Nigerian Youths @#ENDSARS.

• Amam B. Anunobi is a Catholic Priest and writes from Anambra State.