Ebonyi state government has expressed deep sorrow over the passing of His Lordship, Most Rev. Dr. Peter Nworie Chukwu, the 3rd Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Abakaliki, describing his death as a monumental loss to the Church and society.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Governor Francis Nwifuru said he received the news of the Bishop’s transition “with a heart weighed down by deep sorrow, yet comforted by the eternal promises of God.”
The governor described the late Bishop as “a revered shepherd of God’s flock and a spiritual colossus whose life embodied humility, sacrifice, and undiluted devotion to the service of God and humanity.”
According to him, “his transition marks the end of an era of profound spiritual guidance, moral clarity, and fatherly leadership in Ebonyi State and beyond.”
Nwifuru noted that the late cleric, a native of Ededeagu Umuezeokohu in Ezza North Local Government Area, “distinguished himself as an icon of faith, a promoter of peace, and a tireless advocate for justice, unity, and love.”
He added that “through his pastoral mission, he touched countless lives, strengthened families, and nurtured the spiritual growth of our people.”
The governor further stated that “his voice resonated in times of uncertainty, and his counsel served as a source of divine wisdom to leaders and the faithful alike.”
Reflecting on the Bishop’s life, Nwifuru cited 2 Timothy 4:7, saying, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith,” noting that “Bishop Chukwu lived a life worthy of this testimony.”
He extended condolences “to the Supreme Pontiff, the Catholic Diocese of Abakaliki, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, the clergy, religious, and the immediate and extended family of the late Bishop,” adding that “we share in your pain even as we celebrate a life well spent.”
The governor prayed that “the Almighty God, in His infinite mercy, will grant his gentle soul eternal rest and give all who mourn him the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss,” concluding, “Adieu, faithful servant of God. Rest in the bosom of the Lord.”
