Nigeria: DSS' Invitation Of Mbaka Is A Deliberate Threat On Religious Freedom

Nigeria: DSS' Invitation Of Mbaka Is A Deliberate Threat On Religious Freedom In a functioning democracy, a criminal sentenced to death ...

Nigeria: DSS' Invitation Of Mbaka Is A Deliberate Threat On Religious Freedom

In a functioning democracy, a criminal sentenced to death could have his/her death delayed should a priest or an imam slated to perform a spiritual function falls sick or become incapable of exercising that role at the late hour. The reason is because religious freedom, like other human rights such as; freedom of association, expression, etc. is inalienable and undeniable right. So, even a condemned criminal has rights and should have their rights protected. Once such is denied, it becomes a dictatorship, a tyranny and a despot that assumes and subsumes the legislature and the judiciary. It becomes the prosecutor, judge and jury. That is an invitation to anarchy. It is absolutely wrong in every way and must never be tolerated.

As a priest, Reverend Father Ejike Mbaka has the spiritual authority and the constitutional right to religious freedom. It is a right given to each individual from birth; it is not given by government. During his new year eve mass at adoration ministry ground, he(Mbaka) prayed for the leader of the Indigenous People Of Biafra(IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. In his on words, the priest affirmed that it is his right to bless Mazi Kanu, and he is correct. Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is a prisoner of conscience who committed no crime. Kanu's only crime is that he is demanding a referendum date for his people to decide their fate in the British contraption, Nigeria. This what the Nigerian government called a crime. But referendum is a peaceful and democratic process of settling disagreement. 

Terrorism and banditry are one and the same. It is a crime against humanity perpetrated by the Fulani. Yet, Mallam Nasir El’Rufai, the governor of Kaduna state calls this evil activity a business, and had openly admitted to paying the criminals used in those acts. Sheikh Abubakar Ahmad Gumi, a Muslim scholar and imam prays for, negotiates for and dines with these terrorists. At no time have DSS invited him, never!

The president, who by the way is Fulani, refers to them as repentant and offers them clemency.

And I ask; If these criminals can have rights to spiritual purification and rights to clemency, why then should it be a crime to offer such to an innocent man? Again, if Sheikh Gumi can speak on behalf of terrorists, how can anyone pick offense because Reverend Father Mbaka is praying for, and blessing a prisoner of conscience?

The invitation of Mbaka by the Department of State Services (DSS) is the fault of United States of America for deferring to United Kingdom and cherry picking which human right to defend. During President Trump administration, the United States government pursued the defense of human rights based on the demand of foreign policy bureaucrats rather than the defense of the constitution. In total deference to United Kingdom on Africa related matters, especially in the contraption called Nigeria and the genocide they are committing, United States government only made an intangible placing of Nigeria on a religious watchlist and looked the other way as series of human rights violations occurred. However, as intangible as that inclusion appeared, whatever quasi progress made, vanished the moment Joe Biden's secretary of state, Anthony Blinken and the state department he leads decided that economic interest beats defending human rights. This he did but removing Nigeria from that list unanimously. That singular decision has emboldened the dictatorial government of Buhari. That is why Reverend Father Mbaka has been invited.

The United States should, and must reverse her course because it is endangering religious freedom and other human rights.

Written by Chibueze Daniel

Edited by Ogah C S Maduabuchi

For Family Writers Press International