VIDEO: ‘As far as God lives’- How Father Mbaka prophecy working against Peter Obi’s presidency

The distinction between curses and blessings is profound and often misunderstood.

This notion evokes contemplation about the arduous journey of former Anambra Governor Peter Gregory Obi, who has long harbored the aspiration of becoming Nigeria’s President.

Despite this widespread popularity and support, Obi finished third in the election, trailing behind Bola Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar—an outcome that took many by surprise.

Following Tinubu’s victory, the Obidient Group remained undeterred, vowing to continue their quest for justice. They sought to challenge the election results through legal avenues, with hopes that Obi might ultimately unseat Tinubu.

However, these efforts culminated in disappointment when the Supreme Court ruled the challenge invalid, effectively nullifying their claims.

As Obi charts his course towards the 2027 presidential election, he appears to be navigating a treacherous political landscape marked by instability and division within the parties he aligns with.

This precarious situation evokes memories of a striking speech made in 2023 by a controversial Catholic priest, Rev. Father Ejike Mbaka.

In passionate terms, Mbaka asserted that Obi had incurred a personal curse, suggesting that he bears a heavy burden as he pursues his political ambitions.

Mbaka said the then Labour Party (LB) presidential candidate was a “stingy man” and that it was better to have an “old generous man” as president than a “stingy young man”.

The cleric spoke during his weekly ministry service at the Adoration Ground in Enugu then.

“This hunger that is disturbing people and you said you want him? A stingy man, that cannot give people his money. You want to die of hunger? Are you people mad? Where is the Holy Spirit?

“We want somebody that is serious. Unless Peter Obi comes here to kneel, if he becomes President, I will close down this ministry. He is going nowhere,” Mbaka said in 2023, according to a clip posted by BBC Igbo.

The cleric had criticised the former governor ahead of the 2019 presidential election, when Obi, then a vice presidential candidate, declined the cleric’s request to make a donation to the ministry.

Mbaka later issued an apology to the former governor for the verbal attacks.

But after some time, the cleric said he issued the apology to the former governor under duress and not on his volition.

He said he decided to speak up because Mr Obi’s campaign group had been using a video clip of the apology to score political points ahead of the 2023 election.

“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’,” he said.

“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,” Mr Mbaka added.

He accused Obi of desecrating the altar of God by declining to make donation when he was called to do so, insisting that Obi must return to the ministry and make amends before he could taste victory at the polls.

He recalled that he had called Atiku in 2019 and warned him to drop Obi as his running mate for the election, if he wanted to win the election, but that Atiku declined.

“I called Atiku after that apology, he was in Dubai. I told him that there is a revelation on your presidential election; that you are going to be the president of Nigeria on one condition, that Peter Obi is not going to be your running mate.
“(because) Peter Obi has incurred a curse to himself, which means that he is carrying a curse. If you want to be President, change him,” he said.

Not the first time

Mbaka is known for attacking politicians who fall out of favour with him.

In 2015, during his New Year Message, the cleric had attacked the then President Goodluck Jonathan, in the build up to the Presidential election, declaring that Goodluck had become ‘bad luck’ and that he would give way for the then All Progressive Congress (APC) candidate, Muhammadu President, who later won the election, to become president.

Mbaka, a known staunch supporter of late Buhari, had in a surprise move attacked the president, asking him to resign or be impeached for “bad governance”.

The presidency then responded with an accusation that the priest was angry because his request for government contracts was rebuffed.