Killing of Priest: Hon. Agbo leads Benue Reverend Fathers to pray for Nigeria

By Yemi Itodo

Barely two days after the murder of an Enugu based Catholic Priest, Rev. Fr. Paul Offu; a Member of House of Representatives, Hon. Francis Ottah Agbo, on Saturday, led Reverend Fathers in Makurdi, Benue state, to pray for peace in Nigeria.

Fr. Offu, Parish Priest of St. James Greater Catholic Church, Enugu, was allegedly shot dead by suspected Fulani Herdsmen along Ihe, in Awgu Local Government Area of the state.

Also on Friday, five Pastors of the Redeemed Christian Church were kidnapped while on their way to a national convention and were only rescued on Saturday, by the efforts of Nigerian security.

Speaking at the Priestly ordination ceremony of Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Peregrine Ogla, in Makurdi on Saturday, Hon. Agbo, who represents Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency of Benue State, said Nigeria was on the precipice and as such required fervent prayers.

“Nigeria is on the precipice, we need to pray for the return of the soul of this country to Nigeria”, Agbo, who chaired the ceremony said.

According to the Chairman, House Committee on Drugs and Narcotics and spokesman of the Minority Caucus of House of Representatives, it would only take the unity of purpose and determination of Clergymen and the National Assembly to engender peace to the country, as well as restoring the soul of Nigeria, which he noted is the best country in the universe.

He said, “Late Chinua Achebe once wrote a book titled, ‘there was a country’.

“While we in the National Assembly will work hard to reposition Nigeria, we need you the clergymen to pray for the return of the soul of this country called Nigeria, because the soul of Nigeria has since departed from us . This was what Achebe alluded to, when he said there was a country…”

“Nowadays, Reverend Fathers are being kidnapped anyhow, there is no peace in this country. We need the men of God to come together in unison and pray for the soul of Nigeria”.

The lawmaker, accompanied by the Council Caretaker Chairman, Ado Local Government, Comrade James Oche, also advised young ladies to steer clear of Pastors, Reverend Fathers and particularly the newly ordained Father Ogla whom he described as “handsome and gentlemanly”.

While commending Ogla for sacrificing his life for the Kingdom of God, the Moving Train urged the Priest never to be distracted by worldly things.

According to Dr. Agbo, a lot had happened recently around the circuits of anointed men of God, urging Priests to also resist such temptations as there was a greater task attached to their celestial calling.