Some residents of Nsukka, in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State, have expressed mixed feelings over the death of Bishop Francis Okobo, Bishop Emeritus.
Okobo, the first bishop of Nsukka Catholic Diocese, died on Friday, Aug. 29, at Niger Foundation Hospital, Enugu, at the age of 89.
Residents, in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Nsukka on Saturday, described him as a pillar in the diocese’s growth.
Chief William Agbo, Chief Executive Officer of Wilson Group of Companies, said he received news of the bishop’s death with shock.
Agbo said he was, however, consoled that Okobo dedicated his entire life to the service of God, the Catholic Church, and humanity.
“My family and I received the news of the bishop’s passing with shock and sadness. Yet, we are consoled by his dedicated life of service.
“We know that Okobo rests in the bosom of our Lord Jesus Christ. He worked tirelessly to nurture Nsukka Diocese to its present height,” Agbo said.
Prof. Rose Onah, former Chairperson of Catholic Women Organisation (CWO) in Nsukka Diocese, said she received the news with both sadness and joy.
“Sadness, because we shall no longer see Bishop Okobo, who contributed immensely to the growth of the diocese.
“Joy, because he devoted his entire life to serving God and humanity. As first bishop, he worked round the clock for spiritual and physical growth,” she said.
Onah, a former Nsukka Local Government Chairman, noted that Okobo started building St Therese’s Catholic Cathedral, later completed by the current bishop, Godfrey Onah.
“I know he rests in the bosom of our Lord Jesus Christ, having dedicated his life wholly to God and humanity,” she added.
Reacting, Chief Alpho Nweze, from Lejja, Okobo’s hometown, said the community also received the bishop’s death with both sadness and joy.
“Sadness, because we lost an illustrious son to the cold hands of death. Joy, because Bishop Okobo lived a fulfilled life of selfless service.
“We pray God grants him eternal rest in paradise,” he said.
Nweze, a former Nsukka Local Government Chairman, described the late bishop as a faithful ambassador of Christ.
“As first bishop of Nsukka Catholic Diocese, he worked diligently to ensure its rapid growth both physically and spiritually,” Nweze said
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