An Akwa-Ibom-based cleric, Akemini Abasi Abraham has called on Governor Godswill Akpabio to first seek God’s approval before running in the 2011 election. Abraham said he gave the advice against the backdrop of massive endorsement of Akpabio to run in the

Father Teru who died at the age of 36 was a reformist and an uncompromising man of God who clearly distinguishes his official responsibility as a father of all and the custodian of the Church on one hand, and his personal relationship with his parishioners and other people.     He died after a ghastly motor […]

Father Teru who died at the age of 36 was a reformist and an uncompromising man of God who clearly distinguishes his official responsibility as a father of all and the custodian of the Church on one hand, and his personal relationship with his parishioners and other people.    

He died after a ghastly motor accident which occurred close to the Damaturu City Gate, about three kilometres away from his house.

Teru, who was also the Parish Priest of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, was returning from Azare in Bauchi State where he attended a religious meeting.

Family sources said the accident which occurred around 10pm on that fateful day was not discovered until the early hours of Monday when police patrol vehicle noticed the Toyota Corolla car of the clergy and his remains in pool of blood.

The car of the Rev Fr was said to have skidded the road and somersaulted severally after it entered a pothole which caused the rear tyre of the car to come out from the wheel hub.

As someone who rose to prominence at relatively young age, the CAN chairman was held in high esteem by the people of his Church and the Christian community in Yobe.

“As someone without a wife or child, he lived by the oath of celibacy that he took and therefore the only thing he knew was the church and humanity,” Joel Duku, one of the parishioners at   St. Mary’s Catholic Church said.

Some of the members of the church said the late Rev Fr had premonition of his death and had displayed unusual attitudes just a day before he died.

The Vice Chairman of St. Mary’s Parish, Sir Jacob Nyam (SP), who attended the last Mass chaired by Fr Teru recalled that the clergy man had called on members of his congregation to worship God consistently. “On that day, the late priest repeatedly called on members to seek for forgiveness and warned them to be prepared as one’s life could end at anytime,” he said.

“The late clergy equally brought out most of the things he used his personal money to buy and gave them to people and the church urged members to also help the needy,” he added.

Thereafter, late Teru was said to have told his members that what he did was a parting gift because he had been transferred to St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Kaya in Adamawa State as the parish priest and the Director of the Catechetical Training Centre there.

It was learnt that he jokingly told children at the Sunday Class that he was prepared for heaven. “Even if I die on my way or after I arrive at my place of new assignment, I would always pray for you from heaven,” one of the church parishioners who accompanied the late priest to see the children quoted him saying.

It however turned out to be not only a transfer to another state but an end to a journey which began in 2001 when he was ordained as a priest.

Because of his amiable nature and sociable habit, late Fr Teru had received hundreds of encomiums even in death.

“You are the lord servant, may you continue to rest in his bosom,” Maureen Bard, the NACC Yobe State vice chairman wrote in the condolence register.

“Father Teru, so the rosary you gave me was a parting gift?  Okay, I will only assure you of endless prayers whenever I pick up that rosary,” Mrs Chinyere Ogbonno wrote in the condolence register.

The late clergy man was said to have dedicated the whole of his life to worship. Born in Michika, Adamawa State, Fr Teru completed his primary and secondary education in Yola and later moved to St. Peter’s Minor Seminary, Yola.

He was admitted to study Philosophy at St. Thomas Aquinas Major Seminary, Makurdi in Benue State from 1993 to 1996 and thereafter went for one year pastoral work in the diocese of Maiduguri.

In 1997, he left to study Theology at St. Augustine Major Seminary, Jos, Plateau and was ordained in 2001 as a Catholic priest.

He served as Assistant Parish Priest at St. Andrew’s Catholic Church, Mubi; Parish Priest, St. Ann, Murfudi before coming to St. Mary’s Damaturu as Parish priest in December 2007. He also hold a Post Graduate Diploma in Education which he completed early this year.

As a religious leader, late Teru was a bridge builder noted for maintaining good interfaith relationship through constant dialogue with the Muslim community.

In his tribute, the Yobe State commissioner for religious affairs Alhaji Habu Dauda Gulani said   “I was shocked when I received the news of his death. It was such a big loss to the state and the entire Christian Community here.Fr. Teru was such a person whom I enjoyed working with. His views on issues were very objective and articulate. We pray for the repose of his soul,” the commissioner recalled.

The late Yobe CAN chairman will be buried on Tuesday, 21st June 2010 at the St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Maiduguri in Borno State.