By Godwin Utuedoye,
…Onaiyekan, Gowon, others attends funeral
Late Bishop Emeritus of Sokoto, Most Rev. Kevin Joseph Aje was laid to amidst glowing tributes from dignitaries both from the Church and State.
The immediate past Bishop of Sokoto Diocese died at 85.
Bishop Aje retired from active service on September 8, 2011.
Bishop Aje was born in 1934 and ordained Catholic Priest in 1965. He died on May 27, 2019.
The requiem Mass before his interment was celebrated at the Holy Family Cathedral Sokoto and was presided over by Archbishop Matthew Ndagoso of the Catholic Archdiocese of Kaduna and was join by His Eminence, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, 16 other Bishops from across Nigeria and hundreds of priests.
Other dignitarues present to pay their last respect, are religious from different congregations, the laity and other personalities inluding former military head of state, General Yakubu Gowon as well as the immediate past minister of Agriculture, Audu Ogbeh representing President Muhammadu Buhari and the traditional ruler of Ikulu Kingdom in Kaduna state, Chief Kukah, and many others.
Cardinal Onaiyekan in his homily traced his relationship with Bishop Aje to many decades ago.
He said they were both appointed bishops on the same day and also consecrated in Rome on the same day; on the Feast of Epiphany in January 1983.
He said Late Bishop Aje administered Sokoto Diocese situated in the Islamic heartland with faith, courage and tenacity during his bishopric.
The President of CBCN, Archbishop Augustine Akubueze, in his remarks expressed the condolences of the CBCN to the people of Sokoto Diocese and chief mourner, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah.
In a brief address, General Yakubu Gowon said himself and the late Aje were contemporaries and thanked Bishop Kukah for organising such a befitting burial for the late Bishop.
Chief Audu Ogbeh who represented President Buhari disclosed that President called him the previous evening to represent him at the burial ceremony.
Immediately after the Mass, the commendation was led by Archbishop Emeritus Alaba Adeosin Job of Ibadan Archdiocese.
The remains of Bishop Kevin Joseph Aje was wheeled for interment by some bishops to his final resting place at the Cathedral.
Bishop Aje was ordained Priest June 12, 1966, ordained Coadjutor Bishop of Sokoto January 6, 1983, and installed April 28, 1985, resigned as Bishop of Sokoto September, 2011. May his soul rest in His bossom.