Ebonyi on fast track to outshine other S'Eastern States~ Fr. Mbaka

By Nwogha Ndubuisi, Abakaliki The Spiritual Director of the Adoration Ministry Enugu, Nigeria (AMEN), Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, has lauded the rapid transformation of Ebonyi State, asserting that it is on course to surpass other Southeastern states in development and infrastructure.

Fr. Mbaka made these remarks during a night-long Adoration programme held at the Ecumenical Centre in Abakaliki, to commemorate the second anniversary of Governor Francis Nwifuru’s administration. Describing Ebonyi as the “fastest developing state in the South East,” the Catholic priest highlighted visible signs of modernization and infrastructural progress under the current leadership.

“If you blindfold someone and bring them to Ebonyi today, they would think they are in Abuja,” Mbaka said, expressing amazement at the state’s dramatic transformation from its past as a neglected part of the old Anambra State. Sharing what he called a divine revelation, Fr. Mbaka said he had foreseen Nwifuru’s rise to governorship long before it occurred. He described the governor as “a child of favour and mercy,” whose journey—from bricklayer and bus conductor to state leader—he called a testament to divine providence.

“You can imagine a bricklayer becoming a governor. How? With God, all things are possible,” he told the large gathering of worshippers. Fr. Mbaka commended the Nwifuru administration for sustaining peace and accelerating development, while also acknowledging the contributions of previous administrations. He noted that Nwifuru is the only sitting governor who has invited him to minister in his state—an act he described as both significant and historic. The cleric offered prayers for continued prosperity in the state, declaring the gathering “a night of salvation, deliverance, and favour,” and invoked blessings upon the governor and the people of Ebonyi through scriptural proclamations. In his response, Governor Nwifuru expressed gratitude to Fr. Mbaka for honoring the invitation on short notice. He also recalled the priest’s earlier prophecy about his political ascent and shared a personal testimony of miraculous healing. He recounted suffering from a mysterious illness that had defied diagnosis abroad but was instantly healed during an Adoration service. “I stayed from evening till daybreak, and I noticed I was healed. Since then, I have not experienced the symptoms again,” the governor said, drawing applause from the audience. The event drew thousands of worshippers, top government officials, and religious leaders from across the region. Many attendees described it as spiritually uplifting and reflective of the administration’s growing public support. In an interview, the State Commissioner for Human Capital Development and Monitoring, Mrs Ann Aligwe stated that Fr. Mbaka’s remarks are expected to spark widespread discussion across the Southeast, as Ebonyi gains increasing recognition for its strides in infrastructure, social programs, and inclusive governance under Governor Nwifuru.