It was a celebration of a life well lived on Thursday as many old boys of Christ the King College Onitsha, CKC, paid glowing tribute at the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity, Onitsha to late Reverend Father Nicholas Tagbo, who was the Principal of the college for 21 years as his body was interred in the Cathedral burial ground.

No fewer than 10,000 students, including Governor Willie Obiano, former Governor Peter Obi, Chief Judge of Anambra State, Justice Peter Umeadi, Senator Mike Ajegbo among many others, passed through his tutelage.

The Pontifical Mass for late Fr. Tagbo who passed on at the age of 87 was presided over by Francis Cardinal Arinze, who was assisted by five Catholic Bishops, including Auxiliary Archbishop of Onitsha, Rt. Rev. Dennis Isiuzo, Bishop of Nnewi Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Hillary Okeke, Emeritus Bishop of Orlu Diocese, Most Rev, Gregory Ochiagha, and Bishop John Okoye of Awgu Diocese of Enugu State.

In his sermon, Cardinal Arinze called on Nigerians to emulate the peaceful nature and selfless service of Fr. Tagbo, saying that going by the kind of life he lived, he should be smiling to paradise.

The Cardinal said he was grateful to God to have also benefited from Tagbo’s teachings as he was also his student, having taught him and some of his contemporaries in 1950 and almost all of them made As in their scores.

According to him, late Fr. Tagbo instilled discipline, love and unity that had carried all the people he taught to their various ventures in life.

He promised on behalf of all those who passed through Fr. Tagbo that they would continue to keep the virtues he instilled in them.

On his part, the Catholic Archbishop of Onitsha Most Rev. Valerian Okeke, who is also an old boy of CKC, hailed Cardinal Arinze and all the Bishops present during the funeral service for making out time to come.

He commended Governor Willie Obiano, his predecessor, Mr. Peter Obi, Secretary to Government of Anambra State, Prof. Solo Chukwulobe and Chief of Staff to Governor Obiano, Prof. Joe Asike, Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe as well as eminent sons and daughters of Onitsha, including Dr. Alex Obiogbolu, for paying the last respect to the clergy man.

Recalling Wednesday’s reconciliation between Governor Willie Obiano and his predecessor, Mr. Peter Obi during a gathering of the old boys at CKC, Bishop Okeke of Nnewi Diocese said Rev. Fr. Tagbo’s spirit performed miracle in the lives of the two prominent sons of the state.

He noted that they took the reconciliation to another height by sitting together yesterday on the same seat at the church and urged them to finally close ranks to work for the development of the state.

In their different tributes, Obi and Dr. Peter Odili said the deceased took interest in his students’ welfare and studies describing that as the reason why he was able to know each of them by their names while obi described him as a man who must not be forgotten in the history of the development of education in the South East and Anambra State in particular.

He added, “The likes of the diseased are in short supply”

Odili, who was the Senior Prefect and College Captain of the school in 1967, further described Rev. Fr. Tagbo as an inspiration, motivator and a guide who nurtured and taught them to take responsibility for their actions and not to be afraid of mistakes.

In his words: “You, Fr. Tagbo, made us to learn from our mistakes, discover our potentials, disciplined us and made us disciplined, turned us into young leaders. We became brilliant students under your watch and we grew into sports stars with your tutelage. You guided us to make our various career choices and today many have risen to enviable heights in their chosen profession.”

Governor Obiano on his part described late Fr. Tagbo as “a quintessence of style, wisdom and a mercurial moral reformer.”

Also, Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, said the deceased witnessed many of his students and wards ascend great positions both within and outside Nigeria adding, “We take solace in the fact that he came, he saw and he conquered.”

In an earlier tribute sent to the family by President Muhammadu Buhari, the president described late Rev. Fr. Tagbo as an icon with his footprint indelibly imprinted on the sands of time saying that he was an educationist, administrator, disciplinarian, poet, mentor a keen sportsman, and indeed many things rolled into one.

His statement titled, ‘Farwell to the Principal of Principals’, he said late Rev. Fr, Tagbo used his God-given attributes to nurture over 10,000 students at Christ the King College, Onitsha.

The president said: “It is remarkable that he taught three state Governors, many Senators, Judges, seasoned technocrats and illustrious Nigerians. It is not out of place to have described him as ‘Principal of Principals’. He knew about 1,000 students by name, and taught both arts and science subjects with equal dexterity. Do they come like this anymore?

“Very Rev. Fr. Tagbo was vested with the National Honour of OON in 2010. It is richly deserved, considering his faithful service to God, man and nation. At 87, he takes his well deserved eternal rest. May the Tagbo family, the CKC family and, indeed the whole country, be comforted at the passage of this hero of our time.”

•Photo shows late Rev. Father Nicholas Tagbo.

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