Father Mbaka begged Buhari for government contracts — Garba Shehu

Adoration Ministry priest Ejike Mbaka once asked President Muhammadu Buhari for government contracts but was told to follow due process, presidency spokesperson Garba Shehu alleges.

Mbaka had on Wednesday said God was angry with Buhari over his alleged inaction on the widespread killings across the nation.

The Catholic priest asked the National Assembly to impeach the president if he fails to resign.

“I know people will say, Mbaka did you not pray for Buhari, did Samuel not anoint Saul? What are you talking about? Am I the creator of Buhari? God created him, Nigerians trusted him because he has done well sometimes ago but now how can people just be dying?” Mbaka had said.

“God will ask Nigerians: Nigerians why are you crying? We are crying because our leaders have failed us woefully. If it is in a civilized country, by now, President Buhari will resign. Quote me anywhere and let the whole world hear it. By now, with what is happening, President Buhari should honourably resign.

“We are crying because we don’t have a shepherd. All those that will fight what I’m saying now will eventually suffer the rot. If you can’t do it, either you resign or you be changed. A good coach cannot watch his team defeated when he has players sitting watching on the bench. Either Buhari resigns by himself or he will be impeached.”

But Shehu, who initially threatened to expose the “source” of Mbaka’s “inspiration,” said the clergy’s newfound gusto against Buhari was over the president’s refusal to sidestep due process and award the priest government contracts.

The presidency aide also hinted that he has videos and pictures to back his claim.

“An outsider distilling the avalanche of verbiage will be surprised that after supporting the president two times to win the presidency, Father Mbaka has made a complete u-turn, preposterously asking President Buhari to resign or be impeached,” Shehu said in social media posts on Friday.

“Here is the point of departure: Father Mbaka asked for a meeting and to the shock of presidential aides, he came accompanied by three contractors.

“The president graciously allowed them in, and to everyone’s surprise, Father Mbaka asked for contracts as compensation for his support.

“Anyone familiar with President Buhari knows that he doesn’t break the laid down rules in dealing with contracts or any other government business for that matter. He requested the appropriate authorities to deal with the matter in accordance with laid down rules.

“Inside the Villa, discretion prevailed, that if those pictures and requests were made public, the followers will turn against the religious leader. None of it was released.

“Now, this is what is eating Father Mbaka.”