Obi, Nwifuru, Mbah, Anyim, and others attend funeral of Ebonyi bishop

Peter Obi, the Governor of Ebonyi State, Francis Nwifuru, and his Enugu state counterpart, Peter Mbah, were among the prominent leaders who attended the burial ceremony of Most Rev. Peter Nworie Chukwu, the Catholic Bishop of the Abakaliki Diocese.

Other dignitaries present included former Senate President and ex‑Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim; Ebonyi State Deputy Governor, Patricia Obila; former governor of the state, Chief Martin Elechi; senators; members of the House of Representatives; and numerous other government officials from within and outside the state.

Forty‑two members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) and Catholic archbishops from across the country were also in attendance at the funeral service, which took place at St. Theresa Cathedral in Abakaliki, where the late bishop’s remains were laid to rest.

Pope Leo XIV, represented in Nigeria by Archbishop Michael Grotty, offered consolation to the clergy, religious, and laity of the diocese of Abakaliki. The Pope expressed that he was moved by the bishop’s passing and prayed that God grant him eternal rest.

In his homily, the Catholic Archbishop of the Owerri Ecclesiastical Province, Lucius Ugorji, described Bishop Chukwu as a shepherd who was very close to his flock. He noted that Chukwu left no doubt that he was a bishop.

Ugorji further praised the late bishop as an impactful pastor who shared the joy, hope, grief, and anguish of his congregation. He said:

“To his work, Bishop Chukwu brought intelligence and wisdom, the spirit of enterprise and resourcefulness, as well as his gifts of gentleness and good humour, a tireless prophetic voice, a strong voice of the voiceless, and an active crusader for social justice.”

“Bishop Chukwu also brought to his ministry courage, always fearlessly speaking truth to power in condemnation of social injustice, greed and graft.”

“Above and beyond, he brought to his ministry faith and love, humility and commitment. He lived true to his motto – ‘I’m totally yours,’ which is an expression of Marian spirituality and resolve to serve God and his flock with total dedication.”

“The spirit of total dedication was a driving force of his entire pastoral ministry as a bishop,” Ugorji stated.

In a tribute, the President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, Most Rev. Mathew Man‑Oso Ndagoso, described Chukwu, who served as Assistant Secretary of the Conference until his death, as a true servant who embraced his pastoral duties with an extraordinary blend of humility, courage, and unwavering faith.

He said that within the CBCN, the late bishop was a cherished voice of wisdom and fraternal charity, which led to his election as Assistant Secretary. Ndagoso added that the Conference would miss Chukwu’s gentility, patience, and timely words of encouragement.

“He never sought the spotlight but his quiet, calmness, competence and spirituality made him a pillar among us. The Conference has indeed lost a faithful collaborator,” he said.

In his own tribute, Governor Francis Nwifuru lamented that Chukwu died at a time when the state and Nigeria urgently need leaders of his moral stature, spiritual depth, and fearless disposition, amid a society grappling with erosion of values, insecurity, economic uncertainty, and weakening moral systems.

He said the late bishop was an icon of hope, integrity, and moral rebirth, and that his departure was painful and difficult to comprehend. Nwifuru added:

Bishop Chukwu lived not for comfort, but for conviction. I say this because he was one of those rare servants of God whose voices echoed beyond the altar into the conscience of society.

Our late Bishop stood for truth even when truth became unpopular. He defended justice even when injustice appeared powerful. And he remained courageous even when fear had become fashionable. The late Bishop was also a stickler for excellence and discipline.

He never pretended to be neutral where morality and societal conscience were concerned, but carried the burden of spiritual leadership with uncommon sincerity and discharged his episcopal responsibilities with conviction, intellectual versatility, charisma and candour.

In an era where many leaders have chosen silence in the face of moral decline and social uncertainties, our late Bishop Chukwu chose the difficult path of truth. He reminded us that the Church must never surrender its prophetic voice and that leadership must always be anchored on justice, accountability and the fear of God.

Today, as we commit his remains to mother earth, one painful question echoes in our hearts: why did death strike at a time when Ebonyi State and Nigeria urgently yearn for leaders of his moral stature, spiritual depth and fearless disposition?

At a time when society battles erosion of value and morals, insecurity, economic uncertainties and weakening value systems, our Bishop represented an icon of hope, integrity and moral rebirth. His departure at this critical period is painful and difficult to comprehend.

Yet, as Christians, we are comforted by the eternal promises of God. Apostle Paul, through the Holy Scriptures, reminds us in 2 Timothy 4:7: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.”

Without doubt, the late Bishop fought the good fight of faith. He served God with sincerity. He defended the weak. He strengthened the hopeless. He preached Christ with courage and dedicated his earthly journey to the advancement of God’s kingdom.

His episcopacy witnessed spiritual revival, expansion of evangelism, strengthening of Catholic institutions, and deepening of moral consciousness within our dear Ebonyi State. He was not merely a preacher on the pulpit, but a shepherd among his flock, a father to the vulnerable and a moral compass to leaders.

The late Chukwu died on Friday, 10 April 2026, at the age of 60.

Chukwu was born on 5 November 1965 in Ededeagu, Umuezekohoha, Ezza North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

After attending the Seat of Wisdom Seminary in Owerri, where he completed his philosophical studies (1985‑1989), he completed his theological studies (1990‑1993) at the Bigard Memorial Major Seminary in Enugu.

He subsequently studied at the Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio (2000‑2001) and at Marquette University in Milwaukee, United States, obtaining a Doctorate in Philosophy (2002‑2007). He was ordained a priest on 3 July 1993, incardinating himself in the Diocese of Abakaliki.