Pro-Biafra protests, waste of time — Mbaka

Popular Catholic priest in Enugu, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, has condemned the recent agitation and protests for Biafra, describing the action as evil.

Mbaka made the condemnation in Enugu on Saturday in a sermon at his weekly Adoration Ministry.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the cleric urged youths in the South East and South-South to go back to their business as the protest could lead to their death.

"Locking up your shops and disrupting economic activities will not add any naira to your pocket, whatever grievance you have could be resolved through dialogue,” the cleric said.

He lambasted those leaders that were behind the agitation and protests, saying they should use their children for the struggle.

Mbaka commended President Muhammadu Buhari for appointing ministers from the zone and assigning them with good portfolios.

“President Buhari’s action has proven that the South-East has not been marginalised. I would have reacted if no minister emerged from the zone,” he said.

He said that the five states in the zone had a minister each as prescribed by the Nigerian constitution.

The reverend father attributed the recent free health screening initiative by the Wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, in Enugu to her love for the people of the region.

He blamed Igbo leaders for not living up to the expectation of the people in the area, adding that past governors, National Assembly members failed woefully in discharging their mandates.

“President Buhari is not the cause of poor roads, unemployment and other decay infrastructures in the South East, we should blame our leaders.

“Most of the roads had been awarded but our leaders squandered the fund, even the university teaching hospital in Enugu is a no-go-area and our leaders are not concerned about it,” he said.

Mbaka called on the new Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, to use his office to employ youths in the zone, adding that it would stop what he called another Boko Haram in the South East if not curtailed.

He praised Buhari’s war against corruption, saying it had enthroned due process and sanity in governance.

The cleric, however, urged Nigerians to be patient with the president as he had good plans for the country.