P
eople from all walks of life across the
nation descended on the town of Katsi-
na-Ala in Benue State like locusts from
Tuesday, the 10th of March to Wednes-
day, the 11th of March, 2020, to bid goodbye to
the first Catholic Bishop of Katsina-Ala Diocese,
Most Rev. Peter Iorzuul ADOBOH.
The mortal remains of the late Bishop were
driven from St. Anthony Hospital Zaki-Biam to
St. Gerald Majella Cathedral, Katsina-Ala around
5:30 pm on the 10th of March and laid in state for
the whole night. There was evening Mass to com-
mence the wake around 6:30pm. The homilist at
the Mass was the Archbishop-Elect of Jos, Most
Rev. Matthew Ishaya AUDU who preached on
the theme: ‘I am the Resurrection and the Life’.
Archbishop-Elect Audu said the death of Bish-
op ADOBOH is a profound loss not only to his
biological family but to all. He illustrated the level
of pain of loss being experienced by those who
knew ADOBOH with a story.
According to the Archbishop for many years
a Pastor comforted mourners at funerals with
the words ‘Do not cry, he has gone to the Lord’.
When the pastor’s wife died, he was crying. The
people went to console him and when they no-
ticed that he was crying they asked him where
his wife had gone that he was crying. In response
the pastor said: ‘This death has passed any other
death, let me cry.’ Archbishop-Elect Audu said
the death of Bishop ADOBOH had passed any
other death, but in reality no death passes any
other death.
‘Let us be consoled with the Mass. When death
strikes we understand that there is no lasting
earthly city here. Death can be shattering if not
understood according to our Christian faith.
We need to fall back on our Christian resources.
Jesus died and rose again so God will bring to
him all those who have fallen asleep in him’. The
Archbishop reminded the congregation of what
Christ said concerning those who believe in him
and everlasting life: ‘I am the resurrection and
the life, whoever believes in me will live’. He fur-
ther said Bishop ADOBOH was a frequent recip-
ient of the body of Christ and Christ has prom-
ised that ‘Whoever eats my body and drinks
my blood, I will raise him up on the last day.’
Archbishop Audu continued ‘Bishop ADOBOH
was a handsome man. He had a gift of laughter
amidst many others. He could get angry but I
never saw him fighting with any one since we
knew at the seminary in 1978. No wonder he
was appointed a Bishop when he became sick
two years after his appointment. At the Hospital
Bed he was a spiritual director to himself. When
you visited him and felt bad knowing that he
would die he would ask you what you were do-
ing. Before he died he called people and blessed
them. He accepted death – He never got angry at
the knowledge that he would die as some people
would be when they know that their end is com-
ing and then blame everyone including God.’
‘Death reminds us that one day we shall die.
We need to prepare. Be of clean hands so that
you will receive blessings, walk righteously and
speak uprightly,’ said Archbishop Audu.
After the 6:30pm Mass, the following dioces-
es took turns in saying Masses for the repose of
the soul of Bishop ADOBOH: Makurdi, Gboko,
Otukpo Lafia and Katsina-Ala. Tiv choir provid-
ed music throughout the Wake keep. The view-
ing of the mortal remains was done from 1am to
4:00am.
On the second day after morning prayers
the body of Bishop ADOBOH was conveyed
to Emmanuel Akume Atongo Stadium where
thousands of mourners had congregated for the
Funeral Mass.
In his address to welcome all, the Executive
Governor of Benue State, Dr. Samuel ORTOM,
assured all of security throughout the period. He
said Bishop Adoboh will be remembered for the
role he played in 2016 to provide amnesty to the
bad boys who were causing untold hardships for
the people. The Governor also submitted before
the mourners ‘The truth is that we have failed’
and called on the Church to continue praying
for and challenging the state to do what is right.
During the homily at the Mass, John Cardinal
Onayeikan reflected on the theme:
‘The souls of the just are in the hands of God,
no evil shall touch them.’
‘We never expected Bishop Adoboh to leave us
soon according to human calculation. But God
has it differently. He had fought the fight and
what is left for him now is the reward from God.
God’s time is the best. It is not advisable to advice
God. Bishop Peter ADOBOH was fully prepared.
He had a special grace to see death coming. He
had terminal illness that prepared him. He loved
life but was not afraid to die. What he hoped for
was better than what he was living here’.
The Cardinal prayed that God might grant
heavenly reward to those who looked after the
Bishop during his time of illness. He said the
Bishop would be buried but his memories would
remain. John Cardinal Onayeikan revealed that
Bishop ADOBOH had deep faith and spiritual-
ity. He was unassuming. He was hardworking as
a spiritual director at the St. Thomas Acquinas
Major Seminary, Makurdi.
‘We hear that there are some mad priests who
aspire to become bishops. He never looked for
one, and when he accepted to become one seven
years ago, he accepted it as a Cross, not as a posi-
tion of privilege to enjoy. He faced the challenges
of being a new Bishop. He faced the burden of
poor health and heavy insecurity laden in his ju-
risdiction. His health could not allow him to do
the best he could. He handed over to an efficient
team. May God bless the team. He allowed Bish-
op William Avenya to help him.
‘There was a murderers influx of killers that
caused pain on the whole diocese. He worked
for peace, sought peace and reconciliation. The
inability to bring peace aggravated his health sit-
uation. May his efforts touch the perpetrators of
violence so that they will change.
