Yesterday,
the Catholic community and the country at large were thrown into
mourning when news filtered that Nigeria’s Oldest Reverend Father,
Monsignor (Col.) Pedro Ayodele Martins of the Archdiocese of Lagos,
passed on.
He was aged 103 and had a been a priest for 70 years .
According to a statement by the Archdiocese: “With gratitude to God
the giver of life, we announce the passing away of Msgr. Pedro Ayodele
Martins this morning at the age of 103 years”
Born in 1911, the young Martins was the second but first surviving
child of Marcelino Domingo Martins and Regina Clarice Martins. He was
ordained a priest by Bishop Patrick J Kelly SMA of Benin City in present
day Edo State on August 8, 1943. After his Ordination, he then
proceeded to the University College, Cork, Ireland.
During his life-time, he filled many positions of responsibility,
teaching at St Gregory’s College in Lagos as well as ministering in
several parishes throughout the Archdiocese. He also served as Vicar
General to the immediate past Archbishop of Lagos, now Anthony Cardinal
Okogie. In 1970, he was made Monsignor. During his military career he
served with the Nigerian Armed Forces, rising to the position of Head
Chaplain to the Armed Forces. He served in the Congo and with many Army
formations in Nigeria.
Reacting to the news of his death, a lecturer and formator at the SS
Peter and Paul Major Seminary, Bodija, Ibadan, Reverend Father
Melchiezedek Okpala, said that God had finally called Monsignor
Martins home. ‘’ When I heard the news, my first instinct was thanks be
to God because he had wanted this for a very long time and now, God had
finally called him home. We must celebrate his long, illustrious life,
legacy and give thanks to God for this dinosaur of a man’’
Also speaking to Sunday Newswatch, Project Director at Saint Albert
the Great Major Seminary, Reverend Father Julius Olaitan, said Nigeria
has truly lost a great man. ‘’ We just lost a great Nigerian and a
wonderful priest. Baba was there for us all as a sign of God’s enduring
love’’.
He added that even in his old age and frail nature, he was a
courageous father who linked the young to their history and sought to
help everyone remain in touch with God. ’’ We will definitely miss his
elderly and wise counsel, his great sense of humour and spiritual
guidance,’’ he said.