Eastern Equatoria State Governor Louis Lobong Lojore has appealed to the national government to maintain Kuron Peace Village and build a college for the study of peacebuilding in the country in honor of the late Bishop Emeritus Paride Taban.
Lobong who was speaking during the requiem mass of the late Bishop Paride at St. Peter and Paul cathedral in Torit on Friday also stresses the need to build mechanical and agricultural institutes in the village where Bishop Paride hailed from.
“A peacebuilding college should be established in Kuron Peace Village. Also, in the area where he was born, an institute should be established because he has not done anything in his place of birth,” he said. “Since he was an agriculturalist, mechanic, and experienced driver, there is a need to build either a mechanical or agricultural college in his name. I am also appealing to the Catholic Diocese of Torit, this place called Kuron, I do not know if it was declared a Parish, if it is not, then there is a need for Kuron to be a Parish.”
For his part, Daniel Awet Akot, a senior member of the SPLM Party, called for peace in the country as people mourned Paride whom he described as a faithful and hardworking servant of God whose efforts contributed to the success of South Sudan’s independence.
“Paride is a man of God because of his strong belief so we are here to pray for the real life of our Bishop because he was loved by God. So, we are here to pray for the soul of our Father, we are here to console the family and let us forget what he has done wrong and let us follow what is right for us,” he stated. “We have become successful, we are free and if we are free it is through peace, and peace is all that people are all crying for.”
Meanwhile, Vice President James Wani Igga, described the late Bishop as a hard worker from the time he was their rector in the late 1960s and hailed his achievements in the fight for peace.
“For sure, Bishop Paride, to my knowledge or description, was a man of unity and very humble. He was always optimistic and even during crises and amidst challenges when we were in the seminary, Bishop Paride would advise us to work hard and encourage us saying this world will change,” he said. “Bishop Paride was a devote priest and was ordained in 1964 and was immediately sent to us in the bush. He was a very devoted and committed priest.”
Bishop Emmanuel Bernardino Lowey, of the Catholic Diocese of Torit, said the late Bishop touched many hearts and lives and thanked mourners from across the world for showing up in Torit.
“Late Bishop Paride Taban was a salt of the earth and light of the world and surely touched the hearts of many people. That is why we received many people because he was a man of self-sacrifice, patience, perseverance, peace and reconciliation, love and kindness for all humanity, wisdom and understanding, an advocate for female education, etc.,” he stated. “All of us have something to say about him even though we are mourning. We have mixed feelings and we are going to miss him. He was our role model.”