The traditional ruler of Uwano Kingdom in Agenebode, Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State, Dr George Oshiapi Egabor has been suspended. He was suspended indefinitely with immediate effect by the Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo over incessant kidnappings and killings in his domain. The Governor announced the suspension of the traditional ruler in a statement made available to newsmen by his Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua on Monday. The statement said the secretary to the traditional ruler, Chief Peter Omiogbemhi, has since been arrested by the relevant authorities following a recent incident that led to the death of a Palace Chief, the Late John Ikhamate. This comes after suspected kidnappers abducted a Catholic priest identified as Philip Ekeli and Peter Andrew, a seminarian at St. Peter Catholic Church in Iviukwa, near Agenebode in Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State. Although the priest was released by the kidnappers, the seminarian was not that lucky. He was murdered by the hoodlums. Edo is one of the states that have been witnessing series of kidnapping incidents.

The Vatican has published the Will of Pope Francis. This came after the Catholic Pontiff passed on Easter Monday morning, throwing the over one billion Catholics and the entire world into mourning. His Will has now been published on the Holy See’s website. The document, titled “Testament of the Holy Father Francis”, is dated June 2022, detailing Pope Francis’s desire to be buried in a “simple” tomb and also the location of the tomb. It reads in full: In the Name of the Most Holy Trinity. Amen. As I sense that the twilight of my earthly life is approaching, and with firm hope in Eternal Life, I wish to express my final wishes regarding my burial place. I have always entrusted my life and priestly and episcopal ministry to the Mother of Our Lord, Mary Most Holy. Therefore, I ask that my mortal remains rest, awaiting the day of resurrection, in the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major. I wish that my final earthly journey conclude precisely in this ancient Marian shrine, where I go to pray at the beginning and end of every Apostolic Journey to faithfully entrust my intentions to the Immaculate Mother and to give thanks for her gentle and maternal care. I ask that my tomb be prepared in the burial niche in the side nave between the Pauline Chapel (Chapel of the Salus Populi Romani) and the Sforza Chapel of the aforementioned Papal Basilica, as indicated in the enclosed plan. The tomb should be in the ground; simple, without particular ornamentation, and bearing only the inscription: Franciscus. The expenses for the preparation of my burial will be covered by a sum provided by a benefactor, which I have arranged to be transferred to the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major. I have given the appropriate instructions to Msgr. Rolandas Makrickas, Extraordinary Commissioner of the Liberian Chapter. May the Lord grant the deserved reward to those who have wished me well and will continue to pray for me. The suffering that marked the final part of my life, I offer to the Lord, for peace in the world and brotherhood among peoples. Domus Sanctae Marthae, 29 June 2022 FRANCIS

Minister of Works, David Umahi has claimed that President Bola Tinubu has ended the age-long marginalisation of the South-East region. The South-East has been crying of marginalisation since the country’s return to democracy in 1999. They feel they were still being made to suffer from the effects of the civil war, a development that has spiked agitation for Biafra. However, Umahi said Tinubu has broken the jinx of marginalisation suffered by the people of the South-East region in Nigeria’s political and infrastructural landscape. He stated this over the weekend during a civic reception organised in his honour by the Okposi Okwu community in the Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. A statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Uchenna Orji quoted Umahi as thanking Tinubu for ending the decades of exclusion through equitable distribution of the dividends of democracy across the six geo-political zones. “The Minister thanked the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for breaking the jinx of marginalisation in the South-East through equitable distribution of the dividends of democracy,” the statement partly read. Umahi also said that his appointment as Minister of Works, a first in Nigeria’s post-independence history symbolized a significant shift in inclusion.

Nigeria President Bola Tinubu has returned to Abuja. He arrived in the country at 9:50 p.m on Monday after a working visit and retreat in France and London lasting 18 days. The presidential 001 aircraft conveying the President landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. Tinubu was received by his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila; the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike; the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, among others. Tinubu departed Nigeria on Wednesday, April 2, spending some time in Paris, the French capital, before he reportedly proceeded to London two weekends ago. Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, was also among the officials who received the President.

There is growing outrage across the country as the death toll in the mayhem being unleashed on Benue State climbed to 72. Governor Hyacinth Alia of the State had in a speech during the Easter Sunday mass at the Government House, declared that the state was under siege and losing ground to armed Fulani herdsmen. He told the congregation, “If you hear something, say something, it will enable the security agents to move out there and repel the invaders. “We are under siege as a state, and those who are attacking us must have a face, must have an aim, and must have a drive. "They come, they drag people out, they kill to occupy. This is extremely unacceptable.” It has now been confirmed that at least 72 persons have paid the supreme price. This is following the recovery of 13 more bodies from the attacks on Ukum and Logo Local Government Areas of the state. Principal Special Assistant (PSA) to Benue Governor on Media and Content Creation, Isaac Uzaan, who gave the update, said the bodies were found in both attacked local government areas. Uzaan told PUNCH that 12 bodies were recovered from Ukum and the remaining one in Logo, making the number of fresh recovery 13, while the total fatalities now stands at 72. Recall that many rural communities of Sankera axis comprising three LGAs of Ukum, Logo and Kastina-Ala came under attack between Thursday night and Friday morning, leading to the massacre of several individuals. Meanwhile, Alia has warned politicians who have taken advantage of the security situation to desist, saying it was not the time to do so. “I invite you politicians to stay clear. Don’t be part of those who are attacking us. "We have some machinery in place to dig deeper to let us know who is a culprit, who is involved in the destruction of our state. “A terrorist is a terrorist irrespective of his ethnicity or his religion. Criminality is criminality period! So whoever commits it is a terrorist and he should not be where the living are”, the governor stated.

Pope Francis died of a stroke, causing a coma and “irreversible” heart failure. According to AFP, his death certificate released by the Vatican on Monday showed the cause of death. It could be recalled that the 88-year-old Catholic Pontiff died on Monday morning. The cause of Pope Francis’ death has been identified as a stroke, followed by a coma and irreversible cardiocirculatory collapse. The Director of the Directorate of Health and Hygiene of the Vatican City State, Dr. Andrea Arcangeli, issued the official certification, and the Holy See Press Office released the report on Monday evening. According to the medical report, the Pope had a prior history of acute respiratory failure caused by multimicrobial bilateral pneumonia, multiple bronchiectases, high blood pressure, and Type II diabetes. His death was confirmed through electrocardiographic thanatography. “I hereby declare,” wrote Dr. Arcangeli, “that the causes of death, to the best of my knowledge and judgment, are as stated above.”

Only one Cardinal from Nigeria, Peter Cardinal Okpaleke (62) is eligible to participate in the election of a new Pope, the Catholic Broadcast Commission of Nigeria, CBCN, confirmed on Monday. NATIONAL POST recalls that Pope Francis passed on early Monday morning at the age of 88. Other Nigerian cardinals not eligible to participate in the election of the new Pope include Francis Cardinal Arinze (92), Anthony Cardinal Okogie (88), and Cardinal John Onaiyekan (81). Age was given as reason for their ineligibility to be part of the papal conclave. This was contained in an unsigned statement posted on the CBCN Facebook page. The statement reads: "His Eminence, Peter Cardinal Okpaleke (62) is the only Nigerian Catholic cardinal out of four cardinals currently eligible to participate( vote) in a papal conclave being under 80yrs of age—both to vote for a new pope and to be voted for as Pope. Other Nigerian cardinals who cannot vote .. Francis Cardinal Arinze - 92 Anthony; Cardinal Okogie - 88 Cardinal John Onaiyekan - 81 "WHY CAN'T CARDINALS OVER THE AGE OF 80 VOTE IN CONCLAVES? "The Church excuses them from voting out of concern for the Cardinals themselves. Selecting the Supreme Pontiff can be a great burden of responsibility, and especially so when one is advanced in age. These Cardinals instead take the role of supporting the electors by helping to lead the People of God in prayer during the election. "The reason for this provision is the desire not to add to the weight of such venerable age the further burden of responsibility for choosing the one who will have to lead Christ's flock in ways adapted to the needs of the times. "This does not however mean that the Cardinals over eighty years of age cannot take part in the preparatory meetings of the Conclave, in conformity with the norms set forth below. "During the vacancy of the Apostolic See, and especially during the election of the Supreme Pontiff, they in particular should lead the People of God assembled in the Patriarchal Basilicas of Rome and in other churches in the Dioceses throughout the world, supporting the work of the electors with fervent prayers and supplications to the Holy Spirit and imploring for them the light needed to make their choice before God alone and with concern only for the "salvation of souls, which in the Church must always be the supreme law".

Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, has joined the rest of the world in mourning the Catholic Pontiff and sovereign of the Vatican City, Pope Francis. Mbah described the late Pontiff as a man full of humanity, a reformer, and humble leader. In a statement he personally signed on Monday, the governor also described the Pope's demise as a heavy loss, not only to the Catholic Church, but equally to the entire world. "His Holiness, Pope Francis, was full of humanity and lived as an epitome of meekness. A highly spiritual Pontiff, he chose a modest life over the glamour and privileges intrinsic in the papacy. “The first Jesuit Pope championed a number of liberal reforms, including the review of the Vatican constitution that accorded the lay Catholic and women a foothold on the central administration of the Mother Church “Importantly, His Holiness will be remembered for the promotion of global peace, one of his most outstanding legacies being the 'Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together,' which he co-signed with the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb, on February 4, 2019. “Therefore, I am of the strong belief that a peaceful resolution of the raging conflicts around the world will stand as the greatest monument in honour of the Holy Father. “On behalf of the Government and good people of Enugu State, l join the over 1.4 billion members of the Catholic Church across the world to mourn His Holiness and pray for the peaceful repose of his kind soul."

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate in the 2023 general election in Ebonyi State, Chief lfeanyi Chukwuma Odii has empowered Isuachara community in Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State with One Hundred and Fifty Million Naira (N150,000,000.00) to boost food production. Odii announced the empowerment in the community during a grand reception in his honour. He said he would select three beneficiaries each from five kindred that make up the community for modern agric businesses and promised to give N3 million each to 15  of them after training. He also supported the community's N300m Town Hall project with Twenty Million Naira (20,000,000), promising to give more if the money was  judiciously utilized. "Our community is known for its rich in production of rice, yam, Cassava and vegetable foods, and that made our community people agrarian and that is why I am supporting them. "The agricultural empowerment will involve three persons each from the five kindred, making 15 beneficiaries. "The beneficiaries will go into training in morden farming and after which, I will give them N3 million each to start up agricultural business," he said. Odii, who bagged a Chieftaincy title, "Omeziriobodo 1 of Isuachara alongside six other illustrious sons of the community, said the agricultural empowerment would be rotating among the people annually. Emmanuel Ogudu, National Chairman of Isuachara Development Union said the grand reception and the Chieftaincy award were for the appreciation of Odii for his meritorious service to mankind. Ogudu, who commended Odii, said the annual occasion would pave way for more unified people of Isuachara, urging Odii to keep the flag flying. Also speaking, the Chairman of the occasion, Professor Ogbonna Ogbu, who also one of the Chieftaincy awardees, expressed gratitude for the 2025 celebration of the Isuachara day.

There is panic in Zamfara State following reported imposition of N60m levy on some communities in Zamfara State. Residents fear there could be attacks if they don’t pay the levy as imposed by the bandits. They include: Koloma, Dan Hayin Zargado, Zargado, Dan Godabe, Sabuwar Tunga, Makini, Bubaka, Yelwa, Bahwada, Koda, Manya and Kabusu communities. The bandits operating in the north eastern part of the country accused the communities of aiding military raids. This was disclosed in a post on X by Bakatsine, a conflict and crisis journalist in northwest Nigeria. He wrote: "Bandits have imposed a N60m levy on 12 Zamfara communities: Koloma, Dan Hayin Zargado, Zargado, Dan Godabe, Sabuwar Tunga, Makini, Bubaka, Yelwa, Bahwada, Koda, Manya & Kabusu for allegedly aiding military raids. Residents fear attacks if they don’t pay." NATIONAL POST reports that Zamfara is one of the states that have faced consistent attacks by bandits for several years. Governor Dauda Lawal, who inherited the security challenge, vowed never to negotiate with the terror group.

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, (SAN), Prof Joy Ezeilo has mourned the passage of Catholic Pontiff, Pope Francis. It could be recalled that Pope Francis passed on in the early hours of Easter Monday.e Ezeilo, Executive Director of Women Aid Collective, (WACOL), in a message posted on her social media pages, said Pope Francis was a defender of the voiceless. She wrote, "Fare thee well, our Holy Father Pope Francis! A beacon of divine grace, a tireless advocate for the voiceless, vulnerable, victimized, and impoverished. "His life's work, a testament to unwavering faith and devotion to God and humanity, will forever inspire Christendom and beyond. "I had the profound honour of meeting Pope Francis in 2013 at the Vatican during the Interdenominational Conference he organized on Human Trafficking. "At that time, I served as the UN Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children. One memory stands out vividly: an Argentine woman, rescued by Pope Francis himself when he was the Bishop in Argentina, shared how his intervention saved her life from the abyss of trafficking."