Peter Obi joined Nnewi Diocese at the burial of her priests including Fr. Tobias

Peter Obi yesterday joined Nnewi Diocese at the burial of her priests including Fr. Tobias. He also visited the retired Archbishop Godwin Okpala of Anglican Communion that was recently released from captivity He said

Today, I joined the clergy and faithful of the Nnewi Diocese for the solemn burial of Rev. Fr. Tobias Okonkwo, Msgr. Donatus Ebubechukwu Ike, and Msgr. Prof. Christopher Ejizu in Nnewi.

Fr. Tobias Okonkwo’s tragic death remains a painful reminder of the alarming insecurity confronting our nation. Senselessly killed by criminal elements, his loss is a blow not just to his family and the Nnewi Diocese but to all Nigerians committed to a safer and more humane society.

Fr. Tobias was the Manager of the College of Nursing Sciences at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Ihiala, an institution I have supported and visited annually. During my interaction with him in October 2024, I was deeply moved by his passion for advancing nursing education and his unwavering commitment to improving the health sector. His dedication to enhancing healthcare delivery was remarkable, and his death is a great loss to humanity.

I extend my heartfelt condolences to the Bishop, Most Rev. Dr. Jonas Benson Okoye, and the entire Nnewi Diocese as they mourn these dedicated servants of God. May God grant them, and all of us, the fortitude to bear this irreplaceable loss, and may the departed rest in perfect peace.

I also visited the retired Archbishop Godwin Okpala of the Anglican Communion, who was recently freed after enduring three weeks in captivity. I am heartened to see His Grace in high spirits, undeterred by the trauma, and resolute in his belief that, with the right leadership, Nigeria can overcome its challenges and emerge stronger.

My encounter with Archbishop Okpala strengthens my call for an intensified, decisive battle against insecurity at all levels of government. With unity, commitment, and shared resolve, we can restore peace, protect lives, and secure a brighter future for our nation. -PO