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Police Vows To Unravel Cause(s) Of The Death Of Delta Governor’s Aide, Shimite

April 21, 2025

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Delta State Police authorities on Monday April 21,2025 announced that an investigation is underway to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the death of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s aide on Trade and Export, Shimite Bello Love.

Shimite, Special Adviser to the Delta state Governor, was confirmed dead early Monday morning. Speculations, however, allege that she was killed by her husband.

However , in a statement on Monday ,the Delta State Police Command, informed that the deceased husband is not being detained as being rumoured, but in protective custody following alleged threat to his life.

Shimite, according to the police, was confirmed dead by health personnel at the medical facility she was rushed to Monday morning.

While no official mention was made about the possible cause of her death, the police said a thorough inquest is ongoing to establish the true situation of events that led to her sudden demise.

The police authorities confirmed that Shimite’s family members are, however, suspecting a possible involvement of the husband in her death.

There have been growing insinuations suggesting several domestic problems and violence between the deceased and the husband prior her death.

But the Police are insisting on a thorough investigation, including autopsy to determine the actual cause(s) of death.

“It was the husband who called to report that his wife died early this morning, and that he was receiving threats from her family members.

“It was on that basis that we went to his house and brought him for his own safety.

“The situation became more complex when the deceased family later lodged a formal complaint with the police.

“We are currently investigating. In situation like this, only an autopsy can determine whether the death was natural or due to other causes” the Police stated.

The police spokesman assured that further developments will be made public as investigation progresses.

Marriage: “I Didn’t Want To Be Anybody’s Ex Husband” – Rotimi Amaechi

Adesina Soyooye

April 21, 2025

By Adesina Soyooye

A two-time Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, has disclosed why he prayed not to be like his father as it concerns his marital life.

Amaechi disclosed this in an interview he granted The Sun, a prelude to his upcoming 60th Birthday. He was born on May 27, 1965.

Amaechi who was, also, the Minister for Transportation under the President Muhammadu Buhari Government said his father, Elder Fidelis Amaechi, was serially monogamous. He never had two wives at the same time but was a serial divorcee. After every divorce, Amaechi disclosed, his father would marry another.

Amaechi witnessed all these, and made up his mind to stick to one woman.

Before he met his wife, Amaechi said he prayed to God to show him a woman he would marry and not divorce; he didn’t want a divorce; he didn’t want to be anybody’s ex-husband.

God answered his prayers, and led him to his prayerful and lovely wife, Judith, with whom he has three children – all boys.

To appreciate how close both of them are and how much they understand each other, Amaechi disclosed his wife has no car of her own, but drives his back-up car.

Amaechi, however, said he is like his late father when it comes integrity, hard work and honesty, contentment, traits he proudly embraced.

MR. President: Please, Bring Us Down From This Cross

The Source

April 21, 2025

(Full text of Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah’s Easter Message, 2025)

1: A very happy Easter to you and millions of our countrymen and women. For us Christians, this is the most important event in the history of our faith. It is the season of the Cross, the season of Christ’s triumph over death. This triumph was marked by the blind passion of those who crucified innocence. I am, therefore, using the metaphor of the cross to draw attention to the sufferings and afflictions that have befallen our country in the last years. These sufferings have been marked by a culture of brutality and savagery never witnessed in the history of our dear country. Taken together, they have placed our country outside the purveyor of human civilization. Across the entire country, every day, innocent citizens are kidnapped and held under the most inhuman conditions. A dark pall of death hangs languidly from north to south. It is impossible to find a home, a family, or a community that has not been caught in the cusp of this savagery. Now, Mr. President, Nigeria is reaching a breaking point. The nation is gradually becoming a huge national morgue. Mr. President, with a greater sense of urgency, hasten to bring us down from this cross of evil.

2: Mr. President, we all admit that you neither erected this cross nor did you effect our collective crucifixion. Notwithstanding, Nigerians have been dangling and bleeding on this cross of pain and mindless suffering for too long. A culture of cynicism and self-doubt over our capacity to secure peace for ourselves pervades our land. Indeed, a majority of our citizens feel that there is no hope in sight. However, for us as Christians, Hope is the anchor on which we hang all our hopes (Heb. 6:19). Now is the time to re-enkindle and renew that hope.

3: With broken navigational aids, our journey to greatness is threatened. Yet, amidst all of this, we Christians are compelled to look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith (Heb. 12:2). In times of deep moral and physical crises, we are often tempted, like the scribes and the elders to ask Jesus to prove himself by coming down from the cross (Matt. 27:40). Yet, we must learn to look up to the cross as the source of our boast (Gal: 14). Therefore, these times of great suffering should be times of hope, hope beyond human imagination, a hope which, as St. Paul assures us, does not disappoint (Rom. 5:5). Mr. President, renew our hope by bringing us down from this cross of brutality and suffering.

4: We believe that all is not lost. Our hope has an allay in the holy father, Pope Francis, who last year declared this year, 2025, the Year of Hope with the theme, Pilgrims of Hope. The Pope appreciates that pilgrims are often sailing against the harsh currents of a broken world characterized by violence, pain, suffering, tribulation and death. The Pope said: Uncertainty about the future may at times give rise to conflicting feelings, ranging from confident trust to apprehensiveness, from serenity to anxiety, from firm conviction to hesitation and doubt. Often we come across people who are discouraged, pessimistic and cynical about the future as if nothing could bring them happiness. The road to our collective discouragement in Nigeria has been laid by marauders, murderers, savages and ravenous predators who threaten to overrun our nation. Mr. President, immediately rid our dear country of these forces of darkness and bring us down from this cross of cynicism.

5: Mr. President, hunger, sickness and desolation stalk the land. We still believe removing the subsidies was the right decision. We note that the country now has a huge volume of resources in its domestic reserves. For over ten years now, farming has become one of the most hazardous pre-occupations in our country. I restate the obvious by warning that mere palliative distribution diminishes the dignity of citizens. We have remained between the rock of self-doubt and the hard place of hopelessness. Make food security a fundamental human right to all citizens. Mr. President, please bring us down from this painful cross of hunger.

6: Some years back, some of our public officers confessed that they brought our current killers into our country as a strategy for upstaging the government of the day and to gain power. Strange as it may sound, today we have watched as the cancer of insecurity and violence have metastasized. Now, this cancer threatens the very foundation of our common humanity. The bandits have not only become embedded in every sphere of our lives, they threaten to destroy all that holds our communities together. This self-destructive cancer has invaded our communities and kidnapping is a now a dog whistle for undermining the very structure and foundation of our country. We now hang on the cross at the mercy of these forces of darkness. Mr. President, please, bring us down from this cross of insecurity.

7: Finally, we are confident that a majority of the citizens of our country want to live in peace with one another. However, allowing this insecurity to persists will undermine all forms of goodwill that this or any government in Nigeria espouses. We have all the ingredients to create a toxic mix of violence that can spin out of control. Right now, frustration has penetrated every spectrum of our society especially as the government and its security agencies seem to have largely become spectators in the dance of death that has overtaken our country. We are in a dilemma now and the question is simple: is the persistence of the insecurity a statement of the lack of capacity of our men and women in uniform, or is it evidence that those at the top are reaping the fruits of funding their own war machine? In other words, are Nigerians lambs being sacrificed to an unknown god? Mr. President, step up, get to the finishing line and bring us down from this cross of shame.

8: The resurrection of Jesus equips Christians to face life’s challenges with confidence. At Easter, we must remember that the law of the Lord is written in our hearts (Rom2:15). The structural deformities, the iniquities and corruption of our country are not an excuse for us to let down our guard. We are the light of the world, a city set on a hill. We are equipped with the light of Christ to drive out the darkness that threatens to engulf our country. Let us collectively renew our commitment and hope for building a society after the mind of our creator. I wish you, Mr. President, a happy Easter. Blessings and a happy Easter to all Nigerians.

Kukah, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, delivered this Homily 19/04/2025 at the Easter Vigil/ Holy Saturday Service

Fmr Ondo First Lady, Betty Akeredolu Boosts Security In Three Communities In Imo

Ayodele Oni

April 21, 2025

By Ayodele Oni

Former First Lady of Ondo State, Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, has, through her Foundation, identified with three communities in Imo state through donation of some items, for enhanced security.

Mrs Akeredolu, who holds the Traditional title of Ada Owere 1, urged residents of Owerri to actively participate in efforts to address the growing insecurity in their communities.

She pointed out the importance of a citizen-led approach to enhancing safety in the area.

She made this known during an outreach through her foundation, the Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu Foundation, where she donated four motorcycles and cash support to three communities in Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State.

According to a statement from the foundation, the initiative marks the beginning of a series of planned interventions aimed at strengthening community security.

The wife of former Ondo Governor, who hails from Emeabiam in Owerri West, encouraged others from the zone to contribute in their own ways, describing her gesture as a “widow’s mite” intended to boost the morale of local vigilante groups.

She also advised members of the vigilante teams to carry out their duties with discipline and respect for the law.

The beneficiary communities include Emeabiam, Umuguma, and Oforola. Leaders from these communities expressed gratitude for the support.

The Traditional Ruler of Umuguma, HRM Eze (Dr.) G. N. Ugorji, commended the initiative, assuring that the donated items would be effectively utilized.

Engr. Herbert Igbo, who received the items on behalf of the Emeabiam community, also extended his appreciation and encouraged the vigilante members to remain committed to their responsibilities.

Similarly, the Traditional Ruler of Oforola offered prayers for Ada Owere and called for divine guidance for the security team in using the resources wisely

“His Encyclicals Were Not Only Doctrinal, Seminal Also Timely, Relevant” – President Tinubu On Late Pope Francis

Ayodele Oni

April 21, 2025

By Ayodele Oni

President Bola Tinubu has said late Pope Francis spent his life to challenge the powerful to act with Justice.

In a personally signed condolence message to the Catholics worldwide, the President stated that the late Pope was an instrument of peace who deeply embodied the message of Christ

“Today, with a heavy heart, I join the Catholic faithful and Christians worldwide in mourning the passing of Pope Francis, a humble servant of God, tireless champion of the poor, and guiding light for millions.

“His passing, coming just after the celebration of Christ’s Resurrection, is a sacred return to his Maker at a time of renewed hope for Christians.

“His Holiness served the Church and the Master of the Church until the end. In 2013, he stepped onto the global stage with a message of mercy, urging us to see the face of Christ in the marginalised, the refugees, the migrants, and the forgotten.

“He challenged the powerful to act with justice, called nations to welcome the stranger, and reminded us that our common home—this Earth—is a gift we must protect for future generations.

“He was an instrument of peace who deeply embodied the message of Christ: love for God and love for humanity. In a time of division, he built bridges between faiths and the rich and the poor.

“He was a steadfast advocate for the developing world, where he consistently spoke against economic injustice and ceaselessly prayed for peace and stability in troubled regions.

“His encyclicals were not only doctrinal and seminal but also timely and relevant. Through his pastoral letters, the Pope offered spiritual clarity and hope in an increasingly complex world. He charted a path of renewal for all humanity through his words and deeds.

“In my 2025 Easter Message, I joined the Christian faithful in thanksgiving for the convalescing Pontiff. I was happy to watch his appearance to deliver the traditional Easter Sunday blessing in St. Peter’s Basilica.

“Alas, the Lord called him home a day after, making the world lose its most trenchant voice for justice and action against climate change. May the good Lord, whom he served with all his might, receive him into His eternal bosom.

“As we mourn the late Pontiff, let us also celebrate his legacy. Let us honour him not with words alone but with action: by lifting those who are down, healing our communities, and defending the dignity of every person.

“On behalf of the Government and the people of Nigeria, I extend condolences to the Catholic Church, the global Catholic community, and the Christian faithful.”

Banditry: Nigeria Not Ripe For Self-Help, Jigawa Gov

Ayodele Oni

April 21, 2025

By Ayodele Oni

As suggestions and ideas to checkmate Incessant killings in some parts of the country intensify, Jigawa State Governor, Umar Namadi, has proferred that resorting to self help could lead to chaos.

The Governor disagreed with the position of a former defence chief, Theophilus Danjuma that Nigerians should start defending themselves against bandits.

Namadi made his stance known while reacting to a comment by former Defence Minister, General Theophilus Danjuma (retired), who advised victims of attacks in Benue and Plateau states to stop waiting on the government and begin protecting their communities on their own.

Namadi responded by warning that allowing people to take up arms could lead to disorder across the country.

He said Nigeria has not reached a point where such action is necessary and that taking that path might worsen the already troubling security situation.

While addressing journalists, Namadi noted that the government is still actively working on improving security.

He believes that promoting self-defence would only add fuel to the fire and create even bigger problems.

The governor used the example of the farmer-herder crisis in his state to support his position.

He explained that if he had supported the idea of self-defence among the people during the conflict, the situation could have gotten worse.

Instead of violence, he chose to involve both farmers and herders in open discussions, alongside traditional rulers and community leaders.

Namadi pointed out that this approach led to the formation of a committee that worked towards peace by bringing all sides together.

According to him, engaging the people in dialogue helped to calm tensions and avoid further violence.

He believed that such peaceful methods remain the better choice for addressing conflicts and that resorting to violence should not be encouraged.

Northern Elites Responsible For Plateau, Benue Killings To Scuttle Tinubu’s 2027 Bid

Ayodele Oni

April 21, 2025

By Ayodele Oni

“They used this tactics against Jonathan in 2015, now they are using it against Tinubu with a focus on 2027”

A former member of the Niger State Executive Council, Jonathan Vatsa, has claimed that some “political merchants,” are behind the killings in Plateau and Benue.

He was of the view that the ongoing killings in Plateau and Benue are politically motivated to undermine President Bola Tinubu’s administration ahead of the 2027 elections.

Vatsa, who spoke with journalists at his Minna residence, pointed out that the violence mirrors same tactics used against former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015.

“The same people are back on the drawing board again. They are a Group of Northern Elites with sense of entitlement to free access to national treasury and whenever they desperately want to grab power back to the north for their selfish reason, then this killings for no reason will escalate.

“The killings in Plateau and Benue are all part of the game plan; it is all about 2027. The government should know this by now.”

Vatsa accused “political merchants” of sponsoring terror to make Tinubu unpopular, alleging that they funded Boko Haram and the Chibok kidnapping to destabilise Jonathan’s government.

He expressed confidence that the President’s re-election is secure, citing Niger State’s support for Governor Bago’s agenda, but insisted the government must confront known perpetrators who evade justice.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, has announced that the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, will be visiting Plateau State Monday.

According to Yilwatda, the visit of the vice president is because of a wave of attacks and killings by gunmen in Bokkos and Bassa communities, which had claimed many lives in the past two weeks.

The minister disclosed this during a visit by the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, to the affected communities in Bassa, at the weekend.

However, the Defence Minister, who was accompanied by the General Officer Commanding 3 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Folusho Oyinlola and other Security Chiefs assured the people of the government’s commitment to ending the killings.

He emphasised that the government would take decisive action to address the security challenges in the state.

In a related vein, the Plateau Youth Council (PYC), Northern Zone, has raised concerns over the wave of violent attacks on rural communities in Bassa and Riyom local councils, which coincide with the start of the wet farming season.

The PYC Northern Zone Coordinator, Samson Chiroma, while addressing journalists in Jos, described the attacks as “acts of genocide” rather than communal clashes.

Chiroma called on the Plateau State Government to strengthen Operation Rainbow, a local security outfit, by recruiting more personnel and equipping them with modern tools.

Pope Francis, Global Moral Leader – Min. Of Foreign Affairs

Ayodele Oni

April 21, 2025

By Ayodele Oni

Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has expressed condolences to the Catholics worldwide at the passing of Pope Francis, who died on Monday, 21 April 2025, at the age of 88 years.

The condolence was contained in a statement issued by the acting spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa.

It described the departed Holy Father, as a global moral leader whose papacy was marked by humility, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to peace, social justice, and the dignity of all people.

The statement read: “Nigeria commiserates with the teaming population of the catholic church in the country and joins the international community, particularly the Catholic faithful worldwide, in mourning this immense loss.

“Pope Francis’ deep concern for the marginalized; including refugees, the poor, and victims of conflict, resonated strongly in Nigeria, where his calls for interreligious harmony and solidarity were a beacon of hope amid challenges.

“His historic 2022 apology for the Church’s role in colonial injustices, including the suffering of Indigenous peoples, indeed set a powerful example of reconciliation.

“Also worthy of commendation is his advocacy for peace in Africa, and other conflict areas in the world, reflecting his universal pastoral mission.

“In this moment of grief, therefore, Nigeria extends heartfelt condolences to the Vatican, the Catholic Church, and the Argentine people, who gifted the world this extraordinary pontiff.

“We pray for the repose of his soul and trust that his legacy of mercy, dialogue, and care for our common home will endure.”

Senate Working On State Police- Senate Leader Bamidele

James Orji

April 21, 2025

The National Assembly is working on a legislation for the establishment of state Police, according to the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele.

Bamidele made the remark in his Easter message to Nigerians on Sunday.

in a statement issued through his Directorate of Media and Public Affairs, the lawmaker said state police will assist in tackling the nation’s security problems.

He spoke amidst security challenges posed to the country by armed groups such as bandits and terrorists, which according to some states governors, is now beyond them to tackle.

For instance, the Governor of Plateau state Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang while reacting to the recent killings in his state, in which over 150 persons have so far been killed by suspected herdsmen, solicited the support of the federal government to tackle the problem.

Also, the governor of Benue state Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia had last week called for federal government’s support in the wake of attacks on his state by suspected Fulani herdsmen which left dozens of people killed.

Not a few insist that through State Police state governors will have more powers to confront insecurity in there states, without necessarily deferring to the government at the centre which currently controls the Police and other security agencies.

They insist that state governors, in spite of their Chief Security Officer status have been hamstrung in tackling insecurity in their domains because they have no control over the security agencies in the country such as the Police.

According to Bamidele, the NASS has decided to provide the legal support for the establishment of State Police, believing that this will go a long way to ending some security challenges facing the country.

The senator however urged the nation’s security agencies to synergise to end the activities of some criminal elements disturbing the peace of Nigerians, he warned political actors in the country to stop weaponizing the current situation in the country for their pecuniary gains.

He said, “The Authority of the National Assembly is in the process of developing legal frameworks for the establishment of state police as one of the measures to address insecurity in the country.

“We urge security agencies to work together as a team to track and apprehend all the masterminds and sponsors of terror attacks nationwide.

“We appeal to some political actors that always lash on the country’s challenges to push divisive narratives to learn from the example of Jesus Christ.

“Such actors are no longer playing opposition politics, but simply taking advantage of the country’s internal conditions in the pursuit of their own parochial political outcomes.”

For many years, not a few Nigerians have demanded the establishment of State Police as part of the restructuring of the country, but antagonists insist that State Governors are likely to use it to harass the opposition.

NASS Extends Holiday Amidsts Security, Economic Challenges Facing The Country

James Orji

April 21, 2025

Godswill Akpabio - Senate President — Godswill Akpabio, Senate President.

The National Assembly,NASS, has postponed the resumption date for lawmakers in the House of Representatives and Senate.

The lawmakers were supposed to resumed work on April 29 after the Easter recess. The resumption date has now been postponed to May 6, 2025 according to the Clerk of NASS Kamorudeen Ogunlana.

In a statement issued on Monday titled ‘Notice of Extension of Resumption Date by the National Assembly’, the Clerk said the resumption date was postponed for one week to enable members visit their constituencies and participate in the 2025 Workers Day ceremony.

Ogunlana: “I am directed to inform Distinguished Senators, Honourable Members, and the general public that the two Houses of the National Assembly have extended the date for the resumption of plenary sessions from Tuesday, 29th April 2025, to Tuesday, 6th May 2025.

“This extension allows Distinguished Senators and Honourable Members to participate in the Workers’ Day ceremony and attend to other engagements in their constituencies.

“Distinguished Senators, Honourable Members, and the general public are invited to take note of the new resumption date.

“We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding.:

Meanwhile, not a few Nigerians have questioned the National Assembly members for extending their holidays at a time the country is facing serious challenges in both security and economic fronts.

Their action, according to watchers of the Assembly, could be described as the proverbial Nero who fiddled while Rome burns.

The lawmakers should be up and doing at this time to make legislations to address the nation’s myriads of problems, critics said.

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