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An saki babban linzamin Anglican, Most Rev. Prof. Godwin Okpala, bayan ya shafe wata guda a hannun ‘yan bindiga.
Okpala, wanda ya kasance tsohon Archbishop na Niger Province da Bishop na Nnewi, an sakeshi tare da direban sa.
Ya tabbatar da samun ‘yancin sa ta hanyar rubutawa a shafin Facebook dinsa, a safiyar Alhamis yana mai gode wa Allah.
Ya rubuta: “Praise the Lord!”
Hirarrakin dimbin jama’a suka biyo baya, suna gode wa Allah bisa wannan labari mai dadi.
DAILY POST na bayar da rahoton cewa, an saki Okpala ne wata guda bayan da aka yi garkuwa da shi.
The kidnapped senior Anglican cleric, Most Rev. Prof. Godwin Okpala has been freed.
Archbishop Okpala was set free alongside his driver,
DAILY POST reports that Okpala, a retired Archbishop of the Niger Province and Bishop of Nnewi, was released one month after he was abducted.
It could be recalled that he went missing on his way to Umuchu, a community in Anambra State for a burial ceremony.
Details of his release are still sketchy as of the time of filing this report, but it is being celebrated on various social media platforms of the Anglican Communion.
One of such platforms is the official Facebook page of St Stephens Anglican Church, Nnewi.
PHIL OKOSE, Onitsha
In the spirit of Christmas, the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP in the 2023 general election, Mr. Peter Obi, Wednesday, presented N500 to each of the inmates at Onitsha Correctional centre in commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ.
In the same vein, the Catholic Archbishop of Onitsha, His Grace, Most Rev. Valerian Okeke, also presented one live cow and slaughtered one for the inmates to celebrate Christmas like others who have their freedom.
Obi who lamented that a large number of inmates who are of productive age are wasting away in the prison, stated that, ‘I feel for young men who are of productive age being wasting away in prison”.
“We will continue to pray for these young men to regain their freedom. We are interested in human capital development and we want them to become reasonable persons in the society,” he disclosed.
In his homily, with the theme, ‘Divine Restoration’, the Archbishop who is the Grand Patron Nigerian Correctional Centre, lamented the spate of crime in the country stating that people who carry out these crimes are in darkness and need to have a change of heart.
“These people who commit these crimes are in darkness, they don’t receive Christ, they make our society ungovernable because of insecurity. Some take pride in crimes,”; he stated.
To the inmates, he told them to be of good behaviour when they come out of prison stating that his aim in celebrating the Christmas with them is for them to feel they belong during this commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ.
Among the items he presented to them included, one live cow, one slaughtered cow, tissue papers, soap, toothpastes, ba rush, cooked rice, satchet water, among others.
Also, a former gubernatorial candidate in the state and Chief Executive Officer, of United Nigeria Airlines, Dr. Obiora Okonkwo, gave the inmates tubers of yam and bags of rice.
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The Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Alfred Martins has told President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other Nigerian leaders to prioritise tackling the problem of hunger, poverty, joblessness, and other economic hardships Nigerians face.
Archbishop Martins disclosed this in his Christmas message signed by Reverend Father Anthony Godonu, the director of social communications at the Archdiocese of Lagos.
According to him, Nigerian leaders should be more sensitive to listening to the yearnings of the people amid the economic hardship.
This comes as the archbishop stressed the urgent need for a better enabling environment to allow businesses to thrive in a bid to reduce the high rate of unemployment and the grinding poverty in the land.
“Even in the face of policies that are deemed to have positive results in the long term, such as the removal of fuel subsidies, the floating of the naira, and the new tax reform initiative, governments must ensure that the immediate welfare of people is not neglected but factored into the planning and execution of such policies.
“This is necessary if the people for whom the policies are being made are not to die before the positive results begin to manifest. At the same time, government spending must be prudent and compassionate. In addition, it is necessary to pay more attention to the agricultural sector so that food security can be ensured for overall benefit”.
Prelate further described very sad and depressing, the recent loss of several lives of innocent Nigerians in Ibadan, Abuja and Anambra in their quest to access food palliatives owing to pervading hunger across the country.
He said it was worrisome that many Nigerians now find it difficult to purchase necessities of life, especially during this festive season that should be a period of merriment, sharing of love, food, and other essentials, which are the hallmarks of the Christmas season.
As a solution, to prevent the ugly incidents, the Bishop urged governments, at both the federal and state levels, as well as the legislative assemblies, to identify and quickly fix the loopholes in the polity that are responsible for the massive poverty and hardship that Nigerians are facing.
He advocated the appraisal of the nation’s existing laws and the enactment and enforcement of only proactive policies that would open the business environment, attract investors, and create more jobs so that the citizens can afford their basic needs rather than depend on palliatives that offer only temporary relief.
The Prelate urged substantial investments in the agricultural sector of the economy to ensure the availability of basic foodstuffs, thereby reducing the high cost of essential food items like rice, beans, onions, and grains.
“If citizens have food in their homes, people will not endanger their lives while scrambling for palliatives in the way it happened.” While praying for the souls of those who died in the recent stampedes in parts of the country, he also commiserated with those who lost their loved ones, praying that Jesus, the Prince of Peace, would bring solace to the afflicted, comfort to the grieving, and hope to the despairing.
“This special season reminds us of the profound love of God, who sent His only Son to redeem humanity. May the light of Christ illuminate our lives, dispel darkness, and fill our hearts with love, compassion, and kindness. As we gather with family and friends, let us not forget those who are less fortunate, the vulnerable, and the marginalised. May our celebration be a catalyst for acts of charity, generosity, and solidarity.”
DAILY POST reports that food stampedes in Abuja, Oyo, and Anambra States led to the death of over 70 people.
The Most Reverend Isaac Ayo Olawuyi, Archbishop of the Methodist Church Nigeria Lagos, has called for a Muslim governor to be elected in Lagos State in 2027.
According to reports, the current governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, a Christian, will complete his second term in 2027, marking 12 consecutive years of Christian leadership in the state.
Speaking at the 22nd Annual Thanksgiving Service of the Lagos State House of Assembly, themed “The Voice of Mercy,” Archbishop Olawuyi emphasized the importance of religious tolerance. He suggested that it would be appropriate to allow a Muslim to take on the role of governor after Sanwo-Olu’s tenure.
The Archbishop noted that since 2015, the governorship has been held by Christians—Akinwunmi Ambode, who served a single term from 2015 to 2019, and Sanwo-Olu, who is currently in his second term.
“It would be 12 years in 2027 that we have had Christians as governors. Now, it’s time to give our Muslim brothers a chance to lead Lagos State,” he stated.
He also recalled that from 1999 to 2015, Lagos was governed by Muslims—Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Babatunde Fashola—before the transition to Christian leadership. The statement was issued by Eromosele Ebhomele, Chief Press Secretary to Speaker Mudashiru Obasa.
There is tension in Anambra State over the whereabouts of Most Rev. Prof. Godwin Okpala (Retired Archbishop of the Niger Province and Bishop of Nnewi).
DAILY POST learnt that the Archbishop was last seen on Friday when he embarked on a journey to Umuchu, a community in the State.
As of the time of filing this report, it is unclear if the Archbishop and his driver were abducted.
A prayer alert issued by the Bishop of Nnewi Diocese, Rt. Rev. Ndubuisi Obi on Saturday, urged intercessory prayers for the Archbishop.
It reads,
“PRAYER ALERT from BISHOP Ndubuisi Obi of Nnewi Diocese.
Dearly Beloved people of God,
With a deeply burdened heart, we write to inform you of the distressing news that our revered Father in God, the Most Rev. Prof. Godwin Okpala (Retired Archbishop of the Niger Province and Bishop of Nnewi), has been missing since yesterday morning.
He embarked on a journey to Umuchu accompanied by his driver but, unfortunately, never arrived at his destination. Since then, there has been no communication, and neither he, his driver, nor the vehicle have been located.
We earnestly plead for your fervent prayers for their safety and swift return. The relevant authorities have been contacted, and we are hopeful and trusting in God’s divine intervention for a positive resolution.
Please, join us in prayer of intercession, trusting in the Lord, whose watchful eyes never slumber, to bring our beloved Father in God, and his driver back to us safely.
Thank you for standing with us in this moment of distress.
+Ndubuisi Nnewi.”
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Anambra State Command, Toochukwu Ikenga said he was unaware of the development.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby has resigned.
This comes after the independent Makin review discovered that the Church of England covered up sexual abuse by a barrister.
Following calls for his resignation, Welby said the report “exposed the long-maintained conspiracy of silence about the heinous abuses of John Smyth”.
According to Welby, he believed wrongly that an appropriate resolution would follow” when he was told in 2013 that Smyth had been reported to the police.
In a statement, Welby said: ‘Having sought the gracious permission of His Majesty The King, I have decided to resign as Archbishop of Canterbury.
“It is very clear that I must take personal and institutional responsibility for the long and retraumatizing period between 2013 and 2024”.
The independent Makin review into John Smyth QC’s abuse of children and young men was published last week.
John Smyth QC is said to have subjected his victims to traumatic physical, sexual, psychological and spiritual attacks.
The report concluded he might have been brought to justice had Mr Welby formally reported it to police a decade ago.
Smyth died aged 75 in Cape Town in 2018 while under investigation by Hampshire Police, and so was “never brought to justice for the abuse”, the review said.
The Archbishop of the Anglican Communion Justin Welby, has come under pressure to resign, for covering a series of sexual abuse in the church.
Three members of the Anglican Communion national assembly, made this call on Monday, after a report surfaced, stating that the Church of England had covered up a serial abuse case.
The members of the church’s assembly, referred to as the General Synod, have also started a petition demanding that Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby quit in the wake of the revelations.
The report had disclosed that the Church had repeatedly failed to act over abhorrent abuse carried out by John Smyth, a lawyer who organised evangelical summer camps in the 1970s and 1980s.
The report stated, “John Smith is believed to have attacked as many as 130 boys and young men at his home in southern England after grooming them at the camps, which would make Smyth the most prolific known serial abuser associated with the Church.
“Welby could and should have formally reported the abuse to authorities in 2013, when he claimed to have first learned of it.”
Welby, expressed his regrets over the incident but maintained he had no idea or suspicion of this abuse before 2013 when he became archbishop.
Smyth died aged 75 in South Africa in 2018 while under investigation by British police and never faced any criminal charges.
In this interview with IMOLEAYO OYEDEYI, Archbishop of Lagos, Methodist Church Nigeria, Most Rev. Isaac Ayo Olawuyi, comments on NAFDAC’s stance on the ‘miracle water’ saga, criticising those who claim spiritual immunity from regulation. He also addresses the growing discontent among Northern elites towards President Tinubu’s administration and highlights the political undercurrents threatening the country’s unity
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control recently sealed a ‘miracle water’ factory in Delta State. However, some bishops have criticised the agency, insisting it doesn’t have the right to regulate spiritual products. What is your take on this?
Many people are just being religiously crazy. Whatever people consume and which is meant for the public should get NAFDAC’s attention and approval. There is nothing like miracle water. Even if the water comes from heaven, as long as it has to do with the health and well-being of the general masses, there is nothing miraculous about it.
So, it should have NAFDAC’s confirmation and pass through the agency’s inspection process to ensure that it is safe for public consumption.
There is nothing like miracle water, miracle soap, or miracle anything. It is just nonsense.
As for the bishops that protested, that should be the case only if the water is meant solely for their family members.
There won’t be a problem with that because you can drink whatever you want and harm yourself in any way through it. But if the so-called spiritual item is subject to public use and members of the public are patronising it, I think NAFDAC should not hesitate to inspect the item and where it is being produced to confirm its suitability for public use, even if it is called a miracle something.
Don’t forget that when Jesus Christ healed the lepers, He asked them to go and see the doctors in the temple to confirm that the healing was real.
And they went. And one of them later came back to thank Jesus. So, I don’t see anything wrong with NAFDAC approving any spiritual item.
Even if you conduct a miraculous healing, a doctor should assess the person to confirm that they have truly been healed.
I think people have suspended their reasoning because of religion, and society should help them correct it.
So, are you saying that spiritual items should be subjected to medical tests and scientific verification?
Yes. No miracle produces oil. No miracle produces soap. God cannot come down and produce soap or any other item. They are produced by a company and sanctified in the name of the Lord for use. And then we call it miracle this and miracle that.
But if NAFDAC reaches out to verify the authenticity and safety of the spiritual product, let them go ahead and do it.
Let the factory producing the so-called spiritual item be licensed and the items produced confirmed safe for human consumption. So, those saying such things shouldn’t happen because it is spiritually related are simply talking rubbish.
Let everybody allow NAFDAC to do their job, and after the agency has confirmed it, they can go ahead and call it all kinds of miracle items.
For some time now, key ethnic groups and politicians from the North have been slamming President Bola Tinubu, accusing him of appointing his kinsmen to major security positions. Looking at the appointments made so far by the president, do you think the allegation is correct?
It is definitely not correct, especially given that the president has been accused of running a kind of lopsided government that favours the South over the North. I believe that President Tinubu has been fair enough. As far as his administration is concerned, right from the start, he has carried the Northern people along, and he has been fair in his appointments and the distribution of political positions. Though some people feel that the president has been trying to put Southerners in most positions, thereby marginalising other sections of the country, if you look critically at all the appointments he has made, you will discover that where you find a Southerner, you will definitely see a Northerner.
It’s just that the Northerners want to take all the key positions, just like when Muhammadu Buhari was in power and they held all the important positions in the country, including within the Central Bank of Nigeria. But we should not continue with such a tradition.
We need competence over ethnicity. We need technocrats and capable people who have the knowledge to handle certain things that will help the country. We are all Nigerians, and we should see ourselves as the same.
It will not be helpful if we allow sectionalism to prevail in the country. If a president is there, let him be allowed to use his discretion to appoint people who have the competence to handle certain things, whether they are from the North or the South, as long as those people will work and deliver.
So, I don’t think the claims from our Northern brothers are right. But I am not surprised, because that has always been the case in the country. And that is why most of the country’s past presidents are accused of favouritism and nepotism by people from other regions outside their own.
Remember that when Buhari was there, people said the same thing. I think we all have to accept that only a leader knows the best hands that can help his administration.
Does it then mean that a president can’t truly be fair and unbiased by placing competence over ethnicity in his appointments?
Listening to unnecessary complaints will not help, and a leader should stand his ground to know the best hands he wants to use. So, Tinubu should not listen to whoever is complaining because his appointments have been for the good of the nation. And if the people he has appointed are qualified and competent, I don’t think listening to anybody from any part of the country who tries to criticise and use political gimmicks just to derail his administration is right. So, the president should continue what he is doing and deliver. I think that is the best approach.
Are you saying that the North is not important for the president to consider their complaints?
No, there is no part of the country that is not important because we are all important stakeholders, whether from the North, East, South, or West. So, I think if there is a need to look into certain things where complaints arise, the president should listen, but not to the detriment of the administration, because some people are being orchestrated politically to derail Tinubu’s leadership and make him fail by not delivering on his promises, so they can then come forward to say he is not competent to handle the situations of the country.
If you observe, there has been a gathering of some Northern elders and meetings with other high-profile political personalities. Remember that there was a time when they met with Buhari and other eminent political leaders. Though the outcome of the meetings has not been published, we can conjecture that there is a kind of gang-up. And naturally, such things happen. It happened during Jonathan’s time too. It also occurred during Buhari’s reign. So, it can happen to any president. It is always a political game.
But can Tinubu still win back the aggrieved Northern groups ahead of 2027?
It depends because when it comes to politics, only insiders can understand the way it works. I remember that during the APC presidential primaries in 2023, some core NEF elders stood against him because they wanted another Northerner to come in. It has been observed that in this country, whenever the North is not in power, the people from the region do not usually rest because they believe that they should hold power from time to time.
Even when Goodluck Jonathan was there, they did everything to undermine his administration. They vowed that until they took the power back, the country would not see peace. But I believe this cannot help the country because we have to be together as a nation. So, I think they (Northerners) should accept every leader and his administration. And if there is any grievance, they should come to the roundtable and discuss it. But ahead of 2027, I believe the political issue will resolve itself.
How do you think Tinubu’s camp can counter the various moves by Northern elements ahead of 2027?
Politicians know how they play their games, and if any Northern political heavyweights are doing that, it will be just to threaten Tinubu and make him look their way so as to fall to their whims and caprices.
It is simply a way to tell the president, “We are here, give us attention.” But let them continue to gather. After all, this won’t be the first time they will be doing that against a sitting president. Even politicians in other regions can gather and meet. But when the election comes, they will have a way of playing themselves. So, it is all a political game.
Are you saying the various meetings of the Northern political heavyweights may not necessarily have any effect in 2027?
Yes, it will have no effect at all. This is because these same people will still come back to the president and realign. That is how politicians run their affairs in this country.
We have seen how politicians who vowed never to leave the Peoples Democratic Party later left to join the All Progressives Congress when the party came into power. And if tomorrow, the PDP comes back to the centre, you will see some of the same politicians going back to the party to claim positions. So, it’s part of the political game and doesn’t really portend any threat or serious danger.
Do you think the majority of Nigerians are receiving the dividends of democracy under Tinubu’s administration, considering how difficult things have been since he took office?
Honestly, I cannot deceive myself, and nobody is going to be deceived. Everybody knows that things are hard, and indeed, things are very hard. But it depends on the situation the current administration found on the ground. There are things that only insiders can understand, which those on the surface level may likely not comprehend. But I know that Tinubu won’t sit back and allow things to get worse. I think he is also struggling and trying to ensure that we overcome the current dilemma and challenges. I believe he means well for the nation, but the situation on the ground has not been helpful. It’s a sorry case.
Do you think there is anything positive that Nigerians can point to in Tinubu’s administration?
When something happens, especially with issues like subsidy removal that has caused the escalation of food prices and other general costs in the country, it may blind people from seeing any good thing in Tinubu’s administration. But when you look at it with a positive eye, there are many good things in the administration. However, the petrol price increase and scarcity of the product have overshadowed the other good things that Tinubu’s administration has achieved.
You said the administration has achieved many good things since coming into power. Can you mention some of them?
Well, we can say that despite the crisis here and there, the president has been able to maintain peace in the country. As a leader, it becomes a great achievement when your country is at peace despite far-reaching crises. But to the man on the street, it will be very hard to point to any tangible achievement of the administration as of now because what ordinary Nigerians want is food, shelter, good roads, and quality education.
The subsidy removal and high costs of things have taken away all the benefits that the man on the street can enjoy in our democracy. If you are talking about policies that are good in the administration, but none of them produce the necessities I’ve mentioned, nobody will see any good thing to point to in the government’s performance. But there are still some good things. The government has tried to provide some items to cushion the effects of its policies, but some people have not helped the matter. The Federal Government can release things for distribution, but the items often don’t reach the right people. Things like that have not helped the situation.
You mentioned peace as a positive of this administration, but killings and kidnappings continue in various parts of the country. Just this week, 37 victims of Boko Haram were given a mass burial in Yobe State. Can a country experiencing such incidents really be called peaceful?
Yes. The fact is these pockets of incidents happen all over the world, and they’ve been happening long before Tinubu’s administration. Remember the Chibok girls’ abduction and other high-profile kidnap cases. You cannot completely eradicate such occurrences, as they happen everywhere. Killings happen in the United States, the United Kingdom, and other places. So, we can say Tinubu is creating an environment of peace by managing the current situation well so that the country doesn’t fall apart. You know, there are many regional agitations. People want to dismember the country and go their separate ways. But the president has been able to manage these agitations effectively, which is why we are experiencing at least a measure of peace in the country.
The NNPCL recently increased the pump price of fuel. Don’t you think it will worsen the hardship in the country?
I agree with you. I read it in the news, and I felt so bad. I recently went to Oyo State and bought fuel at N950 per litre. It made me feel terrible. Then, as I was travelling back the following day, I heard in the news that the price of fuel might go beyond N1,000 per litre, and I felt even weaker. Something has to be done quickly to stop this; otherwise, it will become unbearable for the people.
In this interview with IMOLEAYO OYEDEYI, Archbishop of Lagos, Methodist Church Nigeria, Most Rev. Isaac Ayo Olawuyi, comments on NAFDAC’s stance on the ‘miracle water’ saga, criticising those who claim spiritual immunity from regulation. He also addresses the growing discontent among Northern elites towards President Tinubu’s administration and highlights the political undercurrents threatening the country’s unity
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control recently sealed a ‘miracle water’ factory in Delta State. However, some bishops have criticised the agency, insisting it doesn’t have the right to regulate spiritual products. What is your take on this?
Many people are just being religiously crazy. Whatever people consume and which is meant for the public should get NAFDAC’s attention and approval. There is nothing like miracle water. Even if the water comes from heaven, as long as it has to do with the health and well-being of the general masses, there is nothing miraculous about it.
So, it should have NAFDAC’s confirmation and pass through the agency’s inspection process to ensure that it is safe for public consumption.
There is nothing like miracle water, miracle soap, or miracle anything. It is just nonsense.
As for the bishops that protested, that should be the case only if the water is meant solely for their family members.
There won’t be a problem with that because you can drink whatever you want and harm yourself in any way through it. But if the so-called spiritual item is subject to public use and members of the public are patronising it, I think NAFDAC should not hesitate to inspect the item and where it is being produced to confirm its suitability for public use, even if it is called a miracle something.
Don’t forget that when Jesus Christ healed the lepers, He asked them to go and see the doctors in the temple to confirm that the healing was real.
And they went. And one of them later came back to thank Jesus. So, I don’t see anything wrong with NAFDAC approving any spiritual item.
Even if you conduct a miraculous healing, a doctor should assess the person to confirm that they have truly been healed.
I think people have suspended their reasoning because of religion, and society should help them correct it.
So, are you saying that spiritual items should be subjected to medical tests and scientific verification?
Yes. No miracle produces oil. No miracle produces soap. God cannot come down and produce soap or any other item. They are produced by a company and sanctified in the name of the Lord for use. And then we call it miracle this and miracle that.
But if NAFDAC reaches out to verify the authenticity and safety of the spiritual product, let them go ahead and do it.
Let the factory producing the so-called spiritual item be licensed and the items produced confirmed safe for human consumption. So, those saying such things shouldn’t happen because it is spiritually related are simply talking rubbish.
Let everybody allow NAFDAC to do their job, and after the agency has confirmed it, they can go ahead and call it all kinds of miracle items.
For some time now, key ethnic groups and politicians from the North have been slamming President Bola Tinubu, accusing him of appointing his kinsmen to major security positions. Looking at the appointments made so far by the president, do you think the allegation is correct?
It is definitely not correct, especially given that the president has been accused of running a kind of lopsided government that favours the South over the North. I believe that President Tinubu has been fair enough. As far as his administration is concerned, right from the start, he has carried the Northern people along, and he has been fair in his appointments and the distribution of political positions. Though some people feel that the president has been trying to put Southerners in most positions, thereby marginalising other sections of the country, if you look critically at all the appointments he has made, you will discover that where you find a Southerner, you will definitely see a Northerner.
It’s just that the Northerners want to take all the key positions, just like when Muhammadu Buhari was in power and they held all the important positions in the country, including within the Central Bank of Nigeria. But we should not continue with such a tradition.
We need competence over ethnicity. We need technocrats and capable people who have the knowledge to handle certain things that will help the country. We are all Nigerians, and we should see ourselves as the same.
It will not be helpful if we allow sectionalism to prevail in the country. If a president is there, let him be allowed to use his discretion to appoint people who have the competence to handle certain things, whether they are from the North or the South, as long as those people will work and deliver.
So, I don’t think the claims from our Northern brothers are right. But I am not surprised, because that has always been the case in the country. And that is why most of the country’s past presidents are accused of favouritism and nepotism by people from other regions outside their own.
Remember that when Buhari was there, people said the same thing. I think we all have to accept that only a leader knows the best hands that can help his administration.
Does it then mean that a president can’t truly be fair and unbiased by placing competence over ethnicity in his appointments?
Listening to unnecessary complaints will not help, and a leader should stand his ground to know the best hands he wants to use. So, Tinubu should not listen to whoever is complaining because his appointments have been for the good of the nation. And if the people he has appointed are qualified and competent, I don’t think listening to anybody from any part of the country who tries to criticise and use political gimmicks just to derail his administration is right. So, the president should continue what he is doing and deliver. I think that is the best approach.
Are you saying that the North is not important for the president to consider their complaints?
No, there is no part of the country that is not important because we are all important stakeholders, whether from the North, East, South, or West. So, I think if there is a need to look into certain things where complaints arise, the president should listen, but not to the detriment of the administration, because some people are being orchestrated politically to derail Tinubu’s leadership and make him fail by not delivering on his promises, so they can then come forward to say he is not competent to handle the situations of the country.
If you observe, there has been a gathering of some Northern elders and meetings with other high-profile political personalities. Remember that there was a time when they met with Buhari and other eminent political leaders. Though the outcome of the meetings has not been published, we can conjecture that there is a kind of gang-up. And naturally, such things happen. It happened during Jonathan’s time too. It also occurred during Buhari’s reign. So, it can happen to any president. It is always a political game.
But can Tinubu still win back the aggrieved Northern groups ahead of 2027?
It depends because when it comes to politics, only insiders can understand the way it works. I remember that during the APC presidential primaries in 2023, some core NEF elders stood against him because they wanted another Northerner to come in. It has been observed that in this country, whenever the North is not in power, the people from the region do not usually rest because they believe that they should hold power from time to time.
Even when Goodluck Jonathan was there, they did everything to undermine his administration. They vowed that until they took the power back, the country would not see peace. But I believe this cannot help the country because we have to be together as a nation. So, I think they (Northerners) should accept every leader and his administration. And if there is any grievance, they should come to the roundtable and discuss it. But ahead of 2027, I believe the political issue will resolve itself.
How do you think Tinubu’s camp can counter the various moves by Northern elements ahead of 2027?
Politicians know how they play their games, and if any Northern political heavyweights are doing that, it will be just to threaten Tinubu and make him look their way so as to fall to their whims and caprices.
It is simply a way to tell the president, “We are here, give us attention.” But let them continue to gather. After all, this won’t be the first time they will be doing that against a sitting president. Even politicians in other regions can gather and meet. But when the election comes, they will have a way of playing themselves. So, it is all a political game.
Are you saying the various meetings of the Northern political heavyweights may not necessarily have any effect in 2027?
Yes, it will have no effect at all. This is because these same people will still come back to the president and realign. That is how politicians run their affairs in this country.
We have seen how politicians who vowed never to leave the Peoples Democratic Party later left to join the All Progressives Congress when the party came into power. And if tomorrow, the PDP comes back to the centre, you will see some of the same politicians going back to the party to claim positions. So, it’s part of the political game and doesn’t really portend any threat or serious danger.
Do you think the majority of Nigerians are receiving the dividends of democracy under Tinubu’s administration, considering how difficult things have been since he took office?
Honestly, I cannot deceive myself, and nobody is going to be deceived. Everybody knows that things are hard, and indeed, things are very hard. But it depends on the situation the current administration found on the ground. There are things that only insiders can understand, which those on the surface level may likely not comprehend. But I know that Tinubu won’t sit back and allow things to get worse. I think he is also struggling and trying to ensure that we overcome the current dilemma and challenges. I believe he means well for the nation, but the situation on the ground has not been helpful. It’s a sorry case.
Do you think there is anything positive that Nigerians can point to in Tinubu’s administration?
When something happens, especially with issues like subsidy removal that has caused the escalation of food prices and other general costs in the country, it may blind people from seeing any good thing in Tinubu’s administration. But when you look at it with a positive eye, there are many good things in the administration. However, the petrol price increase and scarcity of the product have overshadowed the other good things that Tinubu’s administration has achieved.
You said the administration has achieved many good things since coming into power. Can you mention some of them?
Well, we can say that despite the crisis here and there, the president has been able to maintain peace in the country. As a leader, it becomes a great achievement when your country is at peace despite far-reaching crises. But to the man on the street, it will be very hard to point to any tangible achievement of the administration as of now because what ordinary Nigerians want is food, shelter, good roads, and quality education.
The subsidy removal and high costs of things have taken away all the benefits that the man on the street can enjoy in our democracy. If you are talking about policies that are good in the administration, but none of them produce the necessities I’ve mentioned, nobody will see any good thing to point to in the government’s performance. But there are still some good things. The government has tried to provide some items to cushion the effects of its policies, but some people have not helped the matter. The Federal Government can release things for distribution, but the items often don’t reach the right people. Things like that have not helped the situation.
You mentioned peace as a positive of this administration, but killings and kidnappings continue in various parts of the country. Just this week, 37 victims of Boko Haram were given a mass burial in Yobe State. Can a country experiencing such incidents really be called peaceful?
Yes. The fact is these pockets of incidents happen all over the world, and they’ve been happening long before Tinubu’s administration. Remember the Chibok girls’ abduction and other high-profile kidnap cases. You cannot completely eradicate such occurrences, as they happen everywhere. Killings happen in the United States, the United Kingdom, and other places. So, we can say Tinubu is creating an environment of peace by managing the current situation well so that the country doesn’t fall apart. You know, there are many regional agitations. People want to dismember the country and go their separate ways. But the president has been able to manage these agitations effectively, which is why we are experiencing at least a measure of peace in the country.
The NNPCL recently increased the pump price of fuel. Don’t you think it will worsen the hardship in the country?
I agree with you. I read it in the news, and I felt so bad. I recently went to Oyo State and bought fuel at N950 per litre. It made me feel terrible. Then, as I was travelling back the following day, I heard in the news that the price of fuel might go beyond N1,000 per litre, and I felt even weaker. Something has to be done quickly to stop this; otherwise, it will become unbearable for the people.
Reinstated deputy governor of Edo State, Phillip Shaibu has condoled with Archbishop Augustine Akubueze over the passing of Emeritus Archbishop of Benin City Archdiocese, Archbishop Patrick Ebosele Ekpu, describing him as an accomplished Archbishop.
Shaibu, who paid glowing tributes to the memory of the late Archbishop Ekpu, said his contributions to the Catholic church in Edo State and Nigeria are worthy of celebration. He added that he was instrumental in establishing Catholic dioceses, schools, and hospitals.
Shaibu, who was accompanied on the visit by some of his staff, said, “As Catholics, we all know the history of the late Archbishop Patrick Ekpu Ebosele. I grew up to know him. He was an accomplished Archbishop, and under his watch, we saw the creation of the archdiocese. He was also instrumental to the establishment of Lumen Christen Catholic School, Brother Pius Primary School, and St. Philomema Hospital.
“We are celebrating him because we can physically see how he impacted the Catholic Church and the country. Even though we are saddened, we are celebrating his longevity and his accomplishment while on earth. It is customary not just as a deputy governor but as a Catholic to pay our condolences to mourn and celebrate him and his life at 92.”
Most Reverend Augustine Akubueze who received the deputy governor at his court thanked him for the visit and noted that Ekpu until his death was the oldest Bishop in Nigeria.
“We thank God for giving him to us and using him to be a blessing to Auchi and Uromi diocese . We pray that God will give us the grace and wherewithal to give him a befitting burial.”
Pope Francis has appointed a new Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Michael Francis Crotty for the Catholic Church in Nigeria to succeed Archbishop Antonio Filipazzi.
President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), Archbishop of Owerri Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji who confirmed the development in a statement noted that Archbishop Crotty becomes the first Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria from Ireland.
“We are thankful to His Holiness, Pope Francis, for appointing Archbishop Michael Francis Crotty as the Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria to build on the good works of his predecessor, Archbishop Antonio Filipazzi.”
Archbishop Crotty was appointed Special Envoy of the Holy See to attend the presidential inauguration of President Bola Tinubu in May 2023.
The new Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria described his appointment as, “a cause of great joy”, and pledged to serve to the best of his abilities as the Holy Father’s representative to all Nigerians, regardless of their religious or ethnic backgrounds.
Archbishop Crotty was nuncio to Burkina Faso and Niger before his current appointment.
He was born on March 26, 1970 and was ordained a priest for the Catholic Diocese of Cloyne, Ireland, on July 3, 1994.
Crotty was elevated to the rank of Archbishop and appointed to the titular See of Lindisfarne on February 1, 2020, when Pope Francis appointed him as the Apostolic Nuncio to Burkina Faso.
Having joined the diplomatic service of the Holy See in 2001, Archbishop Crotty has held various key roles, serving as Secretary at the Apostolic Nunciature in Kenya from 2001 to 2004 and as Deputy Head of Mission of the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to UNEP and UN-HABITAT.
He was from 2004 to 2007, the First Secretary at the Apostolic Nunciature in Canada, Ottawa, followed by a term as First Secretary in Iraq (Baghdad) and Jordan (Amman) from 2007 to 2009.
Returning to the Vatican in 2009, Archbishop Crotty worked as an Official of the Section for Relations with States of the Secretariat of State until 2017.
He then served as First Counsellor at the Apostolic Nunciature in Spain, Madrid, until his appointment to Burkina Faso in 2020.