The Spiritual Director of the Adoration Ministry Enugu, Nigeria, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, on Saturday, appealed to his fellow priests to stop castigating him for praying for and blessing the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, over his travails.

The cleric, who intensified prayers for the release of the IPOB leader and other agitators behind bars, said he sees the Kanu as his son.

The priest, in his 2022 New Year message during the Crossover night at the Adoration Ground, Emene, said, “I’m begging my fellow priests to stop condemning me for praying for Nnamdi Kanu. I am not closing any priest’s mouth and nobody should close my own. If I use my mouth to bless Nnamdi Kanu and you don’t like it, please use your own mouth to curse him. Leave me to bless him.

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“I see Nnamdi Kanu as my son. Every Igbo man and woman is my child. You may not understand the spiritual authority I have on this land.

“If as a church, we can be praying for Nigeria in distress, nobody can stop us from praying for Nnamdi Kanu and our brothers in distress.

“This year will be for Kanu and those held for agitations. God will show them mercy this year.”