Peter Obi has denounced the murder of a Catholic priest in Anambra and is demanding an end to the nation’s ongoing bloodshed.
On Thursday, Rev. Fr. Tobias Okonkwo, the manager of the College of Nursing Sciences at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Ihiala, Anambra, was shot and killed along the Onitsha-Owerri Motorway. Obi described the tragedy as unfortunate.
On his X account on Saturday, the Labour Party’s (LP) 2023 presidential candidate wrote, “Today, I woke up to the heartbreaking news of the tragic and unfortunate death of Rev Fr. Tobias Okonkwo, the Manager of the College of Nursing Sciences, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Ihiala.
“Fr. Tobias was shot dead last night in Ihiala, Anambra, by unidentified bandits. Tragically, certain bloodthirsty individuals are killing our highly productive men and women regularly.”
Obi stated that “the blood of our brothers and sisters whose lives were cut short by insecurity continue to cry in many parts of the nation.
“Before we take action and stop this threat to our country’s future, how many more lives will be lost? As someone who frequently visits and collaborates with the College of Nursing Sciences, Ihiala, I am aware of how tragic this event is for the campus community.”
The victim’s family and the school administration received the former governor of Anambra State’s sympathies.
“My deepest sympathies go out to his immediate family, the owner, the entire administration, the employees, and the students of the College of Nursing Sciences, Ihiala.
“May God give him eternal peace and give us all the strength to deal with his tragic, irreplaceable loss.
“May God heal our nation that is bleeding,” he added.
On July 11, 2015, the clergyman was ordained as a Catholic priest. He was born on August 11, 1984.
