Governor Praises Late Bishop Usuh At Burial

The Catholic Archbishop of Abuja Cardinal John Onaikyekan has said the war against corruption in the country by the Muhammadu Buhari government should be prosecuted to a logical conclusion.

Onaiyekan who spoke yesterday in Makurdi the Benue state capital during the funeral mass of the first indigenous Bishop of the Old Makurdi diocese, Most Rev. Athanisius Atule Usuh, admonished the Federal Government to check destruction of lives and property of Christians and communities by religious fanatics and insurgents.

“My people, the war against corruption in Nigeria must go on. As Christians, we have to support the government to defeat corruption in our land. But for us to achieve this, we need peace. Therefore government should ensure that there is peace everywhere in Nigeria. Be it herdsmen attacks, Boko haram or religious fanatics, peace must return in our country. That is what late Bishop Athanasius Usuh lived for,” he stressed.

Onaiyekan noted that the late bishop created four dioceses out of Makurdi, saying Catholic faithful would have loved that he lived longer. He urged Ussuh’s successor, Bishop Wilfred Anagbe, to keep faith and called on the bishops presiding over other dioceses created by the late bishop to keep working as their reward would be in heaven.

He said Usuuh saw the end coming, so, he prepared for the journey. He advised that people’s hearts should not be troubled because the late bishop was sure that Christ would give him a place in His Father’s House.

Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom said late Bishop Usuh ran a successful-good race and observed that he died at the time he did because his time was up.

According to the Governor, late Usuh’s lifestyle was worthy of emulation, stressing that the late bishop gave a good account of himself when he served as the chairman of the State’s Football Association and the Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board.

He extended his heartfelt condolences to Bishop Usuh’s  amily, the Catholic faithful, Christians and the entire people of the state and promised to partner with the Church  in the development of the state.

The Chief Celebrant and Representative of the Pope in Nigeria, Papal Nuncio, His Grace, Augustine Kassujja, who delivered the message of the Pope said the news of Bishop Usuuh’s death  was received with shock.

Kassujja extended the Pope’s condolences to the people and asked God to give them the courage to bear the irreparable loss.