Days after the funeral ceremonies of late Joseph Bagobiri, the Catholic Bishop of Kafanchang began, the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai is yet to commiserate with the Christian community in the state.
The outspoken clergyman died at the court of the Arch Bishop of the Kaduna Arch-Diocese while preparing to go to the hospital for treatment on March 7.
He was suffering from renal failure and had been on dialysis before his death.
But fielding questions from journalists as the final burial rites of the deceased got underway, the Coordinator of Media and Publicity in Kafanchan Diocese, Rev. Father Mark Chetmun said the church had not received a condolence message from the Kaduna State Government.
“I can confidently tell you that we have not heard nor received any condolence message from the government of Kaduna state,” he said.
“Unless that happened yesterday evening or this morning (Tuesday). You can go and check our condolence register; there is no one from Kaduna state government that has come to register any message on behalf of the government.
“I am aware that Jemaa Local Government Administrator came to commiserate over the death of our leader, not the state government. That is what I can tell you,” Fr. Chetmun said.
Late Bagobiri was known for his strong position against what he termed, the “anti-people” policies of the El-Rufai-led government of Kaduna State.
However, in a live interview on Channels Television in 2016, the governor had threatened to arrest and prosecute some Christian clerics who had accused him and the Federal Government of not stopping the killings of southern Kaduna natives.
Without any shred of evidence, the governor had accused the critical clergy of being “bigots” and “conflict entrepreneurs,”
Bogobiri, who represented the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) at the 2014 National Conference, was believed to be top on the list.
Meanwhile, activities marking the burial ceremony of the deceased Catholic Bishop kicked off on Tuesday with a colloquium.
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At the colloquium, which took place at the Cathedral of St. Peter, Kafanchan, Vice Chancellor, Albertin Institute, Kagoma, founded by the deceased, said Bagobiri was “a spirit-filled, diligent and exemplary cleric that never forgot his root for one day.”
“Even while serving the country at the global community. He was a voice of hope, a voice of reason and a voice of the masses.
“A strong and eloquent voice indeed we at the 2014 National Conference where he led the CAN Team, Unfortunately, the peoples Catholic Bishop is gone now,” she lamented.
Speaking on the topic: “Bishop Bagobiri: Birth, Early Life, Education and Journey the Priesthood,” Professor Peter Tanko, made light the gloomy mood when he spoke on days of the deceased in the seminary.
“He belonged to the Charismatic Renewal group in the Seminary. That group led a pious life and they saw us the non-members as lesser mortals,” he began.
“They saw themselves as having a spiritual advantage over us. He would call me and tell that some of the things I was doing were wrong and I will tell him to please pray for me. He prayed, but he failed to change me. Thank God I have now changed.
“He played football, badminton and lawn tennis and he hated defeat. Once his team lost by three or more goals, he would stand akimbo and look on with utter despair. Then he would simply walk away to avoid any quarrel,” he said.
The lead speaker at the ceremony, Willaims Kaura Abba, praised the courage, intellect and sterling character of the deceased priest.
He noted that Bagobiri started the Kafanchan Diocese from scratch and within a decade, it surpassed some much older dioceses in the number of priests, parishes, schools and other facilities.
On his part, former Kaduna State Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Mark Jacob, said the deceased feared God but was not afraid truth to power.
Mr. Jacob, who spoke on the topic: “Bishop Bagobiri and the Socio-Political Development of Southern Kaduna and Nigeria,” lamented that the state and country have lost a fine gentleman and defender of the weak and the needy.
Fr. Chetmun said no fewer than 10,000 persons will attend the funeral of the deceased priest including Catholic Bishops of Nigeria or their representatives.
“The Funeral mass will be led by the Catholic Arch Bishop of Kaduna Arch Diocese, Mathew Man-oso Ndagoso,” he said.
“The homily will be delivered by Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah, Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese. The mass will start at 10 am prompt.”
Our correspondent who was at the new Kafanchan Stadium reported that workers were seen putting final touches on the altar, and installing electronic gadgets.
