Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, on Thursday joined Catholic clergy and faithful at the burial of the late Most Rev. Peter Nworie Chukwu, describing his passing as a painful loss to the Catholic Church and humanity.
The requiem Mass and burial ceremony, held in Abakaliki, drew clerics from different parts of the country, members of the Catholic Diocese of Abakaliki, government officials, and other mourners who gathered to pay their final respects to the late bishop.
In a message shared after the funeral, Obi said the late cleric lived a life devoted to God and service to humanity.
“This morning, I joined the clergy drawn from across the country and lay faithful of the Catholic Diocese of Abakaliki for the requiem Mass and burial of the late Most Rev. Peter Nworie Chukwu, Bishop of the Diocese,” Obi stated.
“His passing is a profound loss to his family, the Diocese, and the Universal Church, but we are comforted by the testimonies of his life of dedicated service to God and humanity.”
During the Mass, the Catholic Archbishop of Owerri and President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, reflected on the inevitability of death and paid tribute to the late bishop’s commitment to his calling.
According to Obi, Archbishop Ugorji described Bishop Chukwu as “a courageous and devoted shepherd whose life was marked by sacrifice, service, and fidelity to his calling.”
Also speaking at the event, Francis Nwifuru reportedly described the deceased cleric as “a monumental loss to Ebonyi State and a pathfinder whose leadership transcended religious boundaries.”
Obi noted that the Archbishop’s homily also focused on leadership and accountability in both religious and public service.
“The Archbishop’s message further highlighted the moral demands of leadership and the commitment required of those entrusted with governance, both in the Church and public service, to make society work,” he added.
The Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria, Archbishop Michael Francis Crotty, who represented the Holy Father at the ceremony, stressed the unity of the Catholic Church during the period of mourning.
Obi also commended Bishop Ernest Obodo for overseeing arrangements for the funeral.
“I also commend Bishop Ernest Obodo, the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese, for his leadership and for ensuring a hitch-free funeral for the late Bishop,” Obi stated.
He prayed for the peaceful repose of the late bishop, saying, “May God grant Bishop Peter Nworie Chukwu eternal rest.”