President Muhammadu Buhari has described Reverend Father Ejike Mbaka of the Adoration Ministries in Enugu, south-east Nigeria, as a man of courage for delivering what he called ‘honest exhortation’.
The President said that the cleric’s exhortations early this year to the nation was one of the bests he had heard from the pulpit.
Receiving Father Mbaka, who was on a courtesy call at State House, in Abuja, President Buhari expressed his appreciation of the Catholic priest’s exemplary courage.
“Thank you very much for what you have done and said.
“It brought you out to the whole country as a man of courage. It was honest and well delivered.
“It has gone into the records as one of the best concerns expressed from the pulpit, not because it favoured me and my party, the All Progressives Congress, but because it was good for the country,” the President told Father Mbaka.
“Change will Come”
He also reaffirmed his conviction that “change will come to the country, with a lot of hard work, despite the security and economic problems”.
He appealed for the continued understanding and patience of Nigerians.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who was present at the meeting with Father Mbaka, described the priest as a man “who stood for truth and propriety, and declared corruption unacceptable”.
He added that the Buhari administration “is committed to truth and justice, and won’t encourage corruption in any way”.
Father Mbaka, who in the run up to the 2015 presidential election, told his teeming followers that former President Goodluck Jonathan would not be re-elected because of pervading corruption and insecurity in the land, said he was happy with the mission and methodology of the Buhari administration.
He also wished the President a happy 73rd birthday and prayed for the nation after the meeting with the President.