January 1 2020 began like scores of other New Years in the past with millions of Christians in church for the crossover service. But in Adoration Ground, Emene, Enugu, something consequential was happening. The Spiritual Director of Adoration Ministry, Enugu, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka was prophesizing for Imo State.
“In spite of all that would happen this 2020,” he told them, “there is hope. In Imo State, there is hope. Hope, hope, hope… hope in Imo State!”
“Imo people have suffered [but] God is raising a new hope that would be an agent of salvation for them,” he affirmed.
Many didn’t understand what this hope was or the form in which it would manifest.
Two weeks into the new year, the Supreme Court declared Hope Uzodinma of the APC the “duly” elected governor of Imo State. Hope Uzodinma had polled the fourth highest votes in the election that was held in March 2019. The winner of the election, Emeka Ihedioha of the PDP who had assumed power on May 29th, 2019 was ordered to leave the government house with immediacy.
It was shocking, t was unbelievable, it was outrageous as Imolites and other Nigerians wondered how the fourth-placed candidate would assume power. It didn’t make sense. But the Supreme Court is supreme and their ruling was the law. Uzodinma was sworn in.
To make a painful injury fester, Hope Uzodinma is of the APC which is the party of the unpopular past Governor Rochas Okorocha (and he is also from Orlu Zone, same as Rochas, which means his ascendency into power has disrupted the loosely-followed zoning arrangement in the state).
There was also scorn for Father Ejike Mbaka who made the prediction with speculations rife that he was in league with power brokers in Abuja who were determined to steal a state for APC in the Southeast.
Today it seems the story of their friendship, Father Mbaka and Hope Uzodinma, or partnership or prophet-prophecy beneficiary relationship has gone sour: Hope Uzodinma no longer gives Father Mbaka an audience. Since he took over power, Reverend Mbaka is yet to speak with him.
Frustrated, Mbaka has now come out to open up about their soured relationship.
“It’s not that I’m asking for money,” he was quick to point out, “it’s that I should advise him for good governance.”
