By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
The Presidency has fired back Fr Ejike Mbaka, saying he is now attacking President Muhammad Buhari because he couldn’t get what he wanted from him.
Mbaka, who supported Buhari in the buildup to 2015 and 2019 elections 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.
But, while reacting, Senior Presidential Media Aide, Garba Shehu, in a statement on Friday, said the point of departure was when Mabaka could not get contract from the President.
The statement is reproduced below:
FATHER MBAKA IS EVERYTHING APART FROM WHAT HE CLAIMS TO BE
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.
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.
