By Adoga Michael Oyi

British-Nigerian heavyweight champion, Anthony Joshua is expected to earn between £18 million and £20 million, after beating New Zealand’s Joseph Parker in the unification fight in Cardiff on Saturday, March 21, 2018, night.
This new paycheck will take Joshua’s gross earnings from three fights to £50 million, according to reports. Joshua will even take home more money if he faces the undefeated WBC heavyweight champion America’s Deontay Wilder, who recently produced a tenth-round stoppage to beat Joe Ortiz.
The mouth watering fight is being scheduled for the last quarter of the year, according to Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn.
The size of Joshua’s paycheck was determined by two factors, his being the home fighter and his being the headline name on the card. Parker is expected to earn £13 million, far more than the £1 million pocketed by Joshua’s previous opponent, the Cameroonian Carlos Takam. Joshua then pocketed £15 million.

Their earnings form a proportion of the revenue from pay-per-view TV sales and sponsorship deals with the bout being shown live on Sky Sports Box Office. Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn recently revealed a world unification bout was provisionally penciled in for November or December 2018. “The fight with Anthony Joshua is unquestionably the biggest fight in world boxing and anyone that knows me knows how much I would love to stage a fight like that. “The options are that we go in August in America against someone and then Deontay Wilder, or straight into Wilder. But if we do Wilder it will probably be October, November, December.”

By Adoga Michael Oyi


Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Matthew Hassan Kukah, has warned President Muhammadu Buhari to adjust his style of leadership.
Kukah said this in his Easter message titled: ‘Easter Message to Mr. President And All Nigerians’.
“Mr. President, you are too distant from your people.
“There is a sad feeling that you do not share in the pain and suffering of your people. You must very quickly find a way of connecting with your people before the devil takes over the space,” the cleric said in the letter.
The Bishop reminded Buhari: “This is no ordinary Easter, because these are no ordinary times for our country, Nigeria, over which you preside.”
He noted that the country “is so split both vertically and horizontally today that all of us must honestly identify our many sins of omission and commission, so that we can honestly seek a solution.”

According to him, “This is a time for us to genuinely face what looks to me like an impending calamity. The gathering clouds are clear for us to see. And even those who cannot see can hear the rumbling and rolling sound of thunder. We ignore them at our own risk.”
Kukah regretted that although Buhari “rode into town like a knight in shining armour…the bogeyman of religion, region and ethnicity, which we thought we had overcome by the sheer nature of your support base, have come back with a vengeance to haunt and threaten the very foundation of our existence.”
He told the President: “You have a date with history and divine judgment.”
The bishop criticised religious leaders for being “as divided as the people” they lead, saying: “We have been seduced by powerful politicians and have allowed politics to corrupt the sacred spaces of religion.

“Thus we have lost our voices and no longer seem to have the capacity to interrogate power, as we are called to do.”

By Adoga Michael Oyi

With Easter upon us, that most venerable day when Christians across the globe celebrate the atoning death of Jesus, we would do well to remember that THE symbol of this day, the cross, is not only a link to God, but it is also a pathway to bridging the many racial and cultural issues that divide us all today.
Take a look for yourself. The cross points upward to God, signifying vertical reconciliation. Yet the cross is incomplete without the horizontal cross member, which points laterally, towards people. The cross tells us that in Christ we can be one; it has the power to bridge the division between the races, sexes, and cultures that is growing within our society. The cross says: “Your sins have been forgiven with God, but also to love your neighbor as yourself.”
We seem to forget the incredible power of this forgotten symbol of God’s love to heal and to reconcile. As a pastor I’ve led many estranged couples to reconcile by helping them to rediscover the symbols of their love – reigniting the memories of their first date, their wedding song, or fun things they did together when they first met. Invariably their minds leave the pain and frustration of their strained relationship. They remember these symbols of their love - and the healing begins instantly. This is a microcosm of the cross’ healing impact. Don’t forget the cross!
The cross, though painful for Jesus, brings us to a happy place. Sin had produced an insurmountable debt. Each time we violated God’s commands our indebtedness grew. We were faced with a dilemma. How do we pay our debt to God and experience his forgiveness and peace? Our guilt, self-condemnation, and shame piled up, having no human remedy. Through all of this, God’s love for us never waned. Jesus’ death reconciled us with God. His death paid our debt and gave us life.
Jesus’ death also reconciles us to other people. Yet today, a majority of people inside and outside of the church continue to live monocultural lives, socially isolated from other races. Not only is this limiting and boring on a personal level, it is also a form of prejudice, which is obviously a sin. It’s a sin to live a racially isolated life, thereby ignoring the role of the cross in the work of reconciliation. This is not acceptable – we cannot opt to have some sins forgiven while others are cherished, as if to say, “They’re okay.” If forgiveness of lying, stealing, adultery, and even murder are eagerly desired, we must also use the healing power of the cross to live in diversity and equality. Let this Easter resurrect a new you, a better you, a godlier you. Invite someone of another culture, race, or ethnicity over your home for Easter and let the cross’ reconciling power go to work at your dinner table.
This is why the apostle Paul wrote, “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he committed to us the message of reconciliation.” (2 Corinthians 5:18-19).
Jesus sacrificed everything at the cross for the sake of restoring our relationships. This Easter, reach across the racial, cultural and ethnic aisle to begin to restore relationships with others. In so doing, you’ll be demonstrating the biblical truth: “God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.” (1 John 4:16).
I pray that this Easter you’ll fully experience the reconciliatory power of the cross.

Theresa May praises ‘triumph of human spirit’ after terror attacks and Grenfell Tower fire in Easter message

By Adoga Michael Oyi

Theresa May has used her Easter message to pay tribute to the “triumph of human spirit” following the terror attacks in London and Manchester and the Grenfell Tower disaster.
The prime minister hailed the bravery of victims and communities, as well as the dedication of the emergency services, after a turbulent 2017 marred by atrocities at Westminster Bridge, London Bridge and Finsbury Park, the terrible attack on concert-goers at Manchester Arena, and the deaths of 71 people in the
Grenfell Tower fire.
Ms May, whose father was a vicar, said the Easter story pointed to a “promise of new life and the triumph of hope”, as she sought to draw a line under the divisions caused by Brexit .
Addressing the nation, she said: “Over the last year, Britain has faced some dark moments, from the terrorist attacks at Westminster Bridge and London Bridge, at Manchester Arena and Finsbury Park, and the fire at Grenfell Tower.
“I know from speaking to the victims and survivors of these terrible events how vital the love and support they have received from their friends, family and neighbours has been to them as they begin to rebuild their lives.

By Adoga Michael Oyi

Pictures from around the world capture Christians celebrating Easter, their holiest time of year.
Christians around the world have been gathering to celebrate Holy Saturday, ahead of the church's holiest day - Easter Sunday. In Warsaw, Poland, these priests hold candles as part of an Easter Vigil service.
Catholics gathered after sunset in the village of Ragotna, Belarus, to kindle an Easter fire. The fire is traditionally used to light a holy candle that the priest carries ceremonially into the darkened church.
Pope Francis led a service in the Vatican on Saturday, in the majestic confines of Saint Peter's Basilica.
The pontiff also baptised a man during the service. Easter Saturday is a popular day for welcoming new members into the Christian faith.
The bunny's been busy! In Torrance, California, children took part in a giant Easter egg hunt with more than 75,000 eggs
But in Feuerthalen, Switzerland, it was all about egg painting. For Christians, the eggs are a symbol of the resurrection of Jesus.
Bullfighters took to the ring during the Easter festivities in Arles, southern France. The annual event, called the "Feria de Paques", marks the start of the bullfighting season there.
These Chinese Catholics in Shanghai were snapped waiting beneath pictures of Pope John Paul II and the Virgin Mary.
This crowd is made up of priests on a pilgrimage in Bucharest, Romania, ahead of Orthodox Palm Sunday. Many Orthodox churches base their Easter date on the Julian calendar, not the Gregorian calendar used by Western countries. This year, Orthodox Easter Sunday will fall on 8 April.

From the narrative last week , I guess there is a common understanding that corruption is not only when a public officer steals big money from the national treasury .
Corruption actually happens before the open stealing that is rather visible and attracts loud condemnation . I gave good instances of corruption last week . I shall continue today in the same trajectory.
To pretend that Nigeria is one and it does not matter how government is constituted even if all the key players are from one location is corruption of the highest order .
The national sentiments are well established and it does not serve any national interest when a leader remains insensitive to these sentiments and go ahead for instance to appoint desert dwellers to manage the marine resources of coastal dwellers .
The point that Nigeria is not one is further underscored by the operation of Sharia in some states in a country that purports a secular status .
That is corruption and a bigger one at that to drain taxes arising from the production and consumption of alcohol into a common resource pool called VAT and redistribute same across board on the basis of population , land mass and such other nebulous indices to benefit areas where the regime of Sharia forbids the sale and consumption of alcohol .
To forbid alcohol and eat from its gains is like reaping bountifully from where a seed was not sown .
Even more corrupt are people who use the name of God to fester evil . It is corruption for a full bearded Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria who had also been governor of a state to entice a female juvenile and imprison her as a wife .
The corruption is further complicated when the Senator returns to foist the argument that his religion allows the marriage of children by grandfathers . He is simply re - writing the rules of nature and society to service his expansive libido and there can never be a more corrupt thinking .
In this country , people , for purposes of winning election, had appropriated Boko Haram and rechristened the terror machine a peasant revolutionary movement specifically created to save Nigeria from bad leadership .
These same people turned full circle after their purpose had been met to renounce Boko Haram and say it is evil that must be defeated . What shall we call this ? It is corruption .
Flowing from that , it is corruption too to tie down the entire Boko Haram phenomenon to mindless terrorism without a thorough examination of the issue of bad governance in most of the North , which created the social conditions for Boko Haram to come on board .
Nigeria celebrated 55 years of independence penultimate Thursday. It should be pointedly noted that it is corruption for a nation to be 55 years old and will not know the exact number of its citizens because it pays some people to have it so .
And when one innocent man called Festus Odimegwu raised the alarm that given the objective statistics , Kano State could not have more people than Lagos State , some people called for his head and they were given on a platter of gold.
This corruption driven by a leadership mindset that has constitutionally limited the same Lagos with its overflowing population to only 20 council areas and allowed old Kano State ( now Kano and Jigawa States ) to split astronomically into 72 local government areas ( 45 for the new Kano State and 27 for Jigawa State .
And please candidly answer these . Is it not corruption to build the supporting bureaucracy of the oil and gas industry hundreds of kilometers away from the actual sites of seismic operations in the Niger Delta ?
And how do you describe an official policy that allows the construction of bridges over dry valleys and tableland in Abuja and elsewhere and leaves areas crisscrossed with rivers and creeks and where all the money of the country is made with neither roads nor bridges ? I shall answer ; it is corruption .
Last week , the PDP gleefully announced that it has zoned its ticket for the 2019 presidential election to the North , which currently holds the presidency .
In 55 years , the North has had the power for 36 years for which it has nothing to show its people and Nigerians as a whole and here was the PDP a so - called national party openly mortgaging its future to the same region because doing so sits well with the calculations to recover the presidency from the APC in the next electoral outing .
Whereas there is so much effort to cultivate the North as if anything otherwise will spell doom for the country , nobody mentions the Southeast which has not tasted substantive power outside the seven months of General Aguyi Ironsi since 1960 . It is corruption to continue to operate as if the entire landmass east of the Niger is an unwanted attachment and not a substantive part of Nigeria .
There is something called Petroleum Equalization Fund ( PEF ) in the management of the political economy .
It seeks to subsidize the logistics of local fuel distribution such that a unit of the stuff sells at a uniform price in the South where it is more readily available either by production or importation and in the North that is far from the source .
By this arrangement , fuel is made to attract additional subsidy outside what is official to make it available and avoidable to some people .
More or less , government is saying fuel is vital to all and the economics of proximity to the source of the product should not apply to make some people enjoy low price and others to suffer high price .
Fine argument . I only want to add that food is also very vital and there should be some equalization fund to make the prices of food items uniform nationwide .
I can ’ t see why there should not be a Malu Equalization Fund ( MEF ) for instance to make cow sell at uniform price in Maiduguri and Yenagoa .
If malu does sell in Yenagoa the same price it is sold in Maiduguri , why should fuel sell in Maiduguri the same price it is sold in Yenagoa ? If for any reason PEF is desirable , MEF too is desirable . It is corruption to have PEF and not have MEF .
It is good at this point to state clearly the connection between corruption and injustice and do listen well ! Stealing is almost becoming a norm because people see it as one small way of mitigating the injustices they have suffered .
The public thieves only need a re - orientation to make them act differently after a good scoop from the public till . If they act as Robin Hood who stole to help the poor , they would be honoured with Nobel Prize for Peace.
If they continue in this restrictive manner of stealing to build personal fortune , they shall be called thieves and prosecuted by security agents at home and abroad , as it is the case currently .
As I speak , there are no roads , public water and functional healthcare system in my community. The only secondary school is disintegrating even after the immediate past governor of Delta State , Dr . Emmanuel Uduaghan had promised to do something .
Altogether , nothing about the community connects it with the Delta State government not to talk of the Federal Government .
And so , if per adventure I become the next petroleum minister instead President Muhammadu Buhari whose community does not produce oil , I will not steal billions in dollars and stash away in the vaults of some banks abroad .
Instead, I will use my position to redress some of the injustices of the past.
Specifically , I shall re - channel part of the oil huge money to which my community is a major contributor , and for which nothing has been given back to it, to build basic infrastructure to ensure the survival of my people .
This is not corruption . It is enthroning justice . Corruption happens when justice is dethroned and it shall continue to happen for as long as justice remains dethroned .
A leadership that seeks peace outside justice has its mind set on graveyard peace , which is another name for silent tension .
I shall conclude by saying the universe is on the part of justice and whoever fails or refuses to align with justice because of immediate gains offsets the universal order in the long run.
Such breaches come with dire consequences , which may include corruption , Boko Haram insurgency and other forms of agitation for self - determination.

L-R: Bill Gate, Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, Aliko Dangote

By Adoga Michael Oyi

Penultimate week, Aliko Dangote, African top business mogul, and his American counterpart, Bill Gates, embarked on campaign trips to ensure Nigeria is polio free. To the Africa’s richest man, “it is quite embarrassing that Nigeria is one of the only three countries in the world that are yet to be certified polio free.” The other two countries are Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Therefore, for the whole week, Dangote Foundation and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which have been at the fore front of the campaign to eliminate polio, went on assessment of the situation in the areas earlier affected by the disease and the neighboring Chad Republic, where the two business moguls and their teams met with President Idris Deby in Ndjamena.
Polio is a crippling and potentially fatal infectious disease. It is an infectious viral disease that affects the central nervous system and can cause temporary or permanent paralysis, most especially in the leg. Children not older than 5 years are more likely to contract the virus than any other group, therefore the epidemic inflicts economic loss of colossal dimension on a nation as youths, the future generation, which forms a plank of the productive population are affected.
Polio is caused by a highly contagious virus specific to humans. The virus usually enters the environment in the feces of someone who is infected. In areas with poor sanitation, the virus easily spreads through the fecal-oral route, via contaminated water or food. In addition, direct contact with a person infected with the virus can cause polio. The infection with poliovirus and direct contact with persons increase the risk.
According to World Health Organisation (WHO), a country is regarded as polio free if no cases have been detected for a year. However, no cases of the virus have been reported in the last sixteen months in Nigeria but it is feared that it is still possible polio circulates under some prevailing circumstances as was the case, where a particular strain of virus resurfaced after five years in 2016 which professionals adduced to inadequate surveillance and under-vaccinated populations. Even a single case is considered an epidemic.
Over the years, Dangote Foundation has been involved in causes that guarantee healthy life for the Nigerian child and reduce extreme poverty among the vulnerable especially women. It was in this spirit that he had deployed his resources, for critical interventions, among which are issues bordering on nutrition, routine immunization and commitment to eradicate polio.
The Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) described as multiple factors hampering eradication of the virus especially in the North. Many of the factors, it stated in one of its report on Polio eradication, are embedded in the country’s broad social-political dynamics and enduring chasm between the governed and the government and a decentralized governmental system that often neglect service delivery to marginalized communities.
Some of the obstacles to polio eradication in Nigeria as in many other countries are the lack of basic health infrastructure, which limits vaccine distribution and delivery, the crippling effects of internal strife occasioned by insurgents’ activities which has turned some areas in the North-East as hard-reach.
The visit to Chad was necessitated by the fact that Chad is next to Nigeria from North East axis where immunization penetration has been very difficult. Any movement of the virus across the border might put Chad into jeopardy hence the need to intensify immunization in the country especially in the islands close to the insurgents’ enclave.
Besides Chad is said to be spending less than before on vaccines and routine immunization operational costs – both in absolute terms as well as a proportion of total expenditures. Therefore, both Dangote and Gates were able to obtain commitment from Deby to personally track the ability of the polio program to access and actually go to all 800 Chadian islands in the lake Convince with a promise to step up his political and financial support for routine immunization.
The Chadian President then signed a declaration, committing to increase immunization rates in Chad and end polio in the region. Though Chad has not seen a case of wild polio since 2012, a 2016 polio outbreak in Nigeria placed those in neighbouring countries at risk, particularly children who live on the hard-to-reach islands of Lake Chad.
Déby reaffirmed his support for the region-wide effort to stop polio. “Improving the health of Chad’s children is critical. I am committed to working with neighbouring governments to end polio for good in Africa, and to protecting more of our country’s children with vaccines against other deadly diseases”, he told his visitors.
After the signing, Dangote said all countries in West Africa—including Chad—share a responsibility to protect every child with polio vaccine. Until this happens, the risk of wild polio cases spreading remains.
Said he: “We are close to stopping polio on the continent – but we are not done yet. We want to save the lives of 250, 000 children with the application of right vaccines. Unless we protect all children in Africa with the polio vaccine, the risk of the virus spreading will remain. That is why the Dangote Foundation is determined to continue working with Nigeria’s neighbours including Chad, to improve immunization rates and end polio for good.”
He stated that polio eradication is a must because it is a disease that causes paralysis and in some instances, death. 30 years ago, it paralyzed an estimated 350,000 people – last year there were just 22 cases confined to Afghanistan and Pakistan, a record low. But, the fight against polio is not over until there are no cases anywhere in the world for at least three years.
“As a Nigerian, I feel that I have a special responsibility to make sure that Africa is free from polio since my country has been the one exporting the virus for so many years”, the African richest man said.
“The polio outbreak in Borno a year and a half ago was a big setback. And a lot of work has been done to get it under control. But I’m concerned especially about the risks that still remain. Nigeria cannot reach thousands of settlements, and its islands in Lake Chad because of Boko Haram. And until we do, you will need to be super vigilant on your side.
“One of the risks I see is the islands on your side in Lake Chad. As Bill mentioned, they are difficult to reach, and they have not been visited on a regular basis by the polio program. I think it would be very helpful if you gave instructions to the military to help transport vaccinators to each of the islands we’ve been talking about – so that they are all visited at least 3-5 times this year. With logistics and planning support from the military, I think you can take the final steps to ensure Chad remains polio-free.
“If you personally lead a public review of the program every six months – with the Ministers of Health, Interior, Finance and Communication – along with the Governors and administration, traditional and religious leaders, it would send a clear signal that it is not business as usual. I would be happy to come back for your first review, if you conduct it mid-year.
“Like Nigeria, Chad needs to spend more of its own money on routine immunization. If we cannot immunize our own children to protect them from disease, they have failed them. My recommendation is that you establish a clear budget line for routine immunization in the annual budget at least 40%. That would get you back to the level of commitment the government was making in 2012. Bill and I will work hard with the global partners to try to secure the rest.
From Chad, the team arrived Sokoto where they met with the Sultan, Alhaji Saad Abubakar, and the community heads as well six governors from the Northern region on renewed commitment to intensify immunization to ward of the polio virus and take Nigeria off the list of polio countries.
While thanking the Sultan for his commitment in ensuring that Nigeria is polio free, Dangote lamented that despite all efforts made to ensure the immunization reached majority of the targeted populace, not much ground has been covered. In his own state of Kano, for instance, routine immunization coverage is 16 per cent while that of Sokoto is less than five per cent.
And whereas vaccines, staff and funding are available, the coverage is not moving and has been abysmally low. “It’s both a demand and poor service quality problem. We cannot make progress on the demand side without traditional leaders”, he said. The challenge, according to him, is to get all settlement heads (mai-angwas) to enlist and identify all eligible children, and meet monthly with the local health facility to determine who is and who is not coming for immunization.
“Our biggest challenge in rolling out this strategy is that settlement heads expect to get paid”. Dangote told the Sultan to come in forcefully to let the settlement heads know that asking for money before mobilizing their children for immunization would only compound the problem and not in keeping with the traditional role of settlement heads. If the Sultan can take a very public stand that all settlement heads must support routine immunization and meet monthly with health staff without remuneration.
“But we know that the fight is not yet won, and I would like to reiterate Bill’s point that you and the Emirs in all six states request a joint meeting with your Governors, LGA Chairmen and District Heads this month to review the state of preparations for the April and May national polio campaigns. Every detail counts in preparation and execution.
“With our current very low rates of immunization, we know that most of our dear young children remain unprotected from vaccine preventable disease such as measles, yellow fever, whooping cough, and more. We need your help in changing this.”
At the Sokoto Government House, the governors of Kaduna, Borno, Yobe, Sokoto, Bauchi and Kano signed a Memorandum of Understanding extending their commitment to counterpart responsibilities including funding to deepening coverage of immunization in their respective states.
However before signing the MoU, the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole gave a presentation on the immunization coverage in the areas.
Dangote urged the governors not to be distracted by the coming electioneering but to keep focus on the polio endgame. “That means we should keep the counter-part funding commitments; that we ensure the April and May campaigns are done well, and that LGA Chairmen and District Heads are involved in preparations and implementation of the campaigns”, he said.
“I am delighted to be here to sign these extensions and a letter of intent. It signals that we are taking a development mindset to keep building our routine immunization programs as we begin to focus on broader primary health care. It means that Your Excellences, our Traditional Fathers, Honorable Commissioners, Development Partners, we are all in this together, through thick and thin. Bill and I have seen amazing things happen in Nigeria with turning polio around—when people said it couldn’t be done. We know that the routine immunization and Primary Health Care work is much different, much more complex, and requires long term dedication. It also requires us to keep our passion and motivation high. It requires a sense of urgency to overtake a most dangerous and infectious disease.

By Adoga Michael Oyi


In an Easter Vigil homily Saturday, Pope Francis urged Roman Catholics to not remain paralyzed in the face of injustices. He also baptized eight adults, including a Nigerian man who was initially a beggar but became a hero in Italy.
John Ogah reportedly disarmed a thief with his bare hands when he witnessed a supermarket robbery on Sept. 26.
Ogah had been begging for spare change outside the Carrefour market in a Roman neighborhood when a masked thief, armed with a meat cleaver, tried to make off with 400 euros ($493) stolen from cashiers, according to Italian news reports.
Security cameras showed him confronting the thief, wresting the cleaver away and holding him by the collar until police arrived.
Ogah then disappeared, fearing he would be deported because he didn't have his papers in order. But Rome police sought to reward his courage and gave him a coveted Italian residency permit that had been denied him when his asylum bid failed.
He now reportedly has a job with the Italian Red Cross and a place to call home.
Ogah told La Repubblica newspaper that his dream was to be a legal resident in Italy and have a job so he wouldn't have to beg to support his child back home in Nigeria. He had left Nigeria and, after a stay in Libya, set off for Italy on a migrant smuggler's boat in May 2014.
"If Pope Francis or the president of the republic could do something for me I would be the happiest man in the world," he reportedly said. "I don't want to be a hero. I just want to be legal, work and have a dignified life in Italy."
In Ogah's baptism, he chose as his baptismal name to be "Francesco."
Previously, in a Holy Thursday ritual, Pope Francis washed the feet of 12 prisoners of the Regina Coeli prison in Rome.
The pope, 81, urged the inmates to never let their hopes be clouded like cataracts cloud the eyes, revealing that he suffers from the condition and has to have surgery next year.
He said the same thing happens with life, when disillusionment, errors and fatigue cloud the soul. Francis urged the inmates to do a daily cleansing of their view on life — a "cataract surgery for the soul" — so they can see and spread hope.
During the ceremony, Francis knelt down and one by one, poured water over the feet of the 12 inmates, wiped them dry and kissed them.
Francis said in the homily that the ritual is meant to show his willingness to serve others "like a slave," as Jesus did.
"Your chief must be your servant," he said. "So often I think ... how many wars would have been avoided if all those kings, emperors and heads of state had understood this teaching of Jesus rather than command and be cruel and kill people."
The 12 inmates included Catholics, Muslims, an Orthodox Christian and a Buddhist, the Vatican said. They hailed from Italy, the Philippines, Morocco, Moldova, Colombia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone.

By Adoga Michael Oyi

A Gabonese woman has been arrested for allegedly stabbed her husband multiple times for having a baby outside the marriage with another woman.
Reports indicate that the woman committed the evil deed while her husband was asleep. She allegedly crept up to him while he slumbered and proceeded t stab him.
The deceased who is reported to be a sergeant in the Gabonese army – died immediately after the knife attack by his jealous wife.
After her arrest, the woman was interrogated and while being questioned, she broke down and confessed to killing her husband, explaining that she did so because he cheated on her and had a baby behind her back.
She also confessed to waiting for him to fall asleep on Wednesday night and then stabbed him to death in a jealous rage.

By Adoga Michael Oyi

Zubairu Gwari, emir of Birnin Gwari in Kaduna state, has asked his subjects to defend themselves against suspected bandits invading their communities.
One of the 23 local government areas in Kaduna, Birinin Gwari has recorded a high level of insecurity in recent times.
It was in the area that 11 soldiers were killed earlier in the month.
In an interview with Daily Trust , the first class traditional ruler said he asked his subjects not to “behave like fools” and get killed.
“A month ago, in one area called Anguwan Gajere, the bandits attacked a village, and the villagers fought back, in the process they killed more bandits than the people of the town,” he said.

“All of a sudden, we were told that the people who came were Fulani men, and Miyetti Allah was in the vanguard of protecting them. What we have been preaching to our people is that they should not sit down like fools and watch themselves and their families get killed. If you can do anything to protect yourselves, protect yourself. I will repeat it in front of anybody.
“We can’t be fools to wait for somebody that will not come. Nobody can stop me from telling my people to protect themselves.
And that is what we are doing now because the policemen that are in Birnin Gwari cannot protect. The soldiers that are being brought come and sometimes make matters worse. I am also appealing to the president to come and see things for himself, because we are also Nigerians.”

The emir said his people are living in hell adding that the activities of the suspects have stunted all development activities in the area.
“We have been standing up against these people, fighting them in the hope that it would end, all to no avail,” he said.
” I must say that the Kaduna state government, particularly this present governor, has done his best, and I believe he is still doing so, but I think when you say somebody is doing his best, maybe their best is not enough. That is why, when they do something, it would look like they are succeeding, but then, eventually, the bandits find a way to unleash terror on us.”

Gwari’s call comes a week after Theophilus Danjuma, a retired army general, called on Nigerians to defend themselves against killers.
The statement of the elder statesman sparked a wave of criticism.

By Adoga Michael Oyi

Unknown to many, the failed attempt to foist a Caretaker Committee on the All Progressives Congress, APC, was actually aimed at creating legal crisis for President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019 and edge him out of the presidential election.
Those behind the plot were said to have set a booby trap on account of which Buhari’s nomination for re-election would be declared invalid in line with 1999 Constitution and the constitution of the party.
It was learnt yesterday that 10 more governors had shelved support for the extension of the tenure of the National Chairman of APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and members of his National Working Committee (NWC), based on Buhari’s opposition to the elongation of their tenure.
There were strong indications yesterday that a former Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, was on top of the pecking order in the search for the national chairman of APC.
But three APC governors and some members of the National Assembly who have constituted themselves into opposition elements within the party are said to be weighing the option of defecting to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or any coalition party.
Investigation conducted by our correspondent revealed that three traps were set for Buhari by those who were opposed to his second term ambition in APC.
The three hurdles are:
Foist a caretaker committee on APC to make Buhari’s nomination invalid and subject him to legal crisis
Conspire and defeat Buhari at the APC presidential primaries
Create division in APC to prompt the defection of some governors, party leaders and National Assembly members to either PDP or any of the coalition parties.
It was gathered that the plot was long hatched by some leading figures in APC in cahoots with some forces and a few leaders of some opposition parties.
Findings confirmed that at the caucus meeting of the APC in Abuja on Monday, the anti-Buhari elements in APC were happy that their script was playing according to plan.

The outcome of the caucus meeting was said to have buoyed the confidence of Oyegun, NWC members and some leaders of the party.
Those plotting against Buhari were happy that some governors loyal to the President had been innocently coopted into their plot.
But the affected elements were shocked by Buhari’s “joker” bordering on a clear-cut opposition to tenure elongation for Oyegun and others.
According to The Nation, a top source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The whole idea of raising a Caretaker Committee or converting the Oyegun-led NWC into a Caretaker Committee is a plot to set up legal hurdles for Buhari and other nominees of the party for the 2019 general election.
“Those behind it actually claimed that they do not want the party divided by the fallout of state congresses and the National Convention, but the truth is that they want to box Buhari into a legal corner. That is the larger picture.
“The agenda fits into the design of some elements within APC who believe that Buhari can be stopped internally.
“Some of them, especially some governors, also wanted the status quo to remain in order to hijack the structure of APC in their states and determine 2019 poll nominations in their states.
“They sold a dummy to Buhari without paying attention to constitutional implications. But by being his own man, the President has survived the first plot against him.”
10 more governors back out of tenure elongation agenda
At press time, about 10 governors, who were pro-Oyegun NWC, had allegedly backed out of the plot.
A top party leader said: “Even from the NEC session, some of governors have been saying that they won’t move against the wish of the President.
“At least about eight to 10 of these governors are no longer keen on Oyegun and his team as far as tenure elongation is concerned.

“What some of them are now saying is that we can retain the status quo by bringing Oyegun and his team back at the National Convention since the President has favoured a democratically elected NWC.”
Although some of the governors behind the extension of tenure for Oyegun and others met shortly after the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on Tuesday, their rank has depleted.
The Tuesday night session was coordinated by a North-Central governor.
A Northern governor, who was invited for the meeting simply said: “I am a Buharist. Since the President has spoken his mind, I will no longer be part of any plot to oppose him on tenure elongation.”
The affected governor shunned the meeting and left for his base without asking for the outcome of the session.
Others weigh options
Notwithstanding, the few governors and some National Assembly members supporting tenure elongation have opted to (a) continue with the pursuit of matters in court and (b)launch a counter-plot to bring back Oyegun and (c) use the National Convention to split APC for an opportunity to defect to either PDP or a coalition party.
Investigation showed that the next plans of the anti-Buhari elements are how to use the matters in court to scuttle the proposed congresses and National Convention or how to split the party through the congresses and the convention.
“There are elements who want to cause crisis in APC before defecting to either PDP or a coalition party.
“These elements had initially collaborated with some forces to form parallel APC executives in eight states, beginning with Kaduna State. But the resistance of Governor Nasir el-Rufai made them to retreat.
“Their next plan is to use the APC National Convention, but we won’t allow them to succeed.
“Rather than causing crisis in APC, we want these elements to work harder for Oyegun-led NWC to return at the convention in line with Article 17 of our party,” a member of the NEC said.

Article 17 says: “(I): Except as otherwise provided in this constitution, all officers of the party elected or appointed into the party’s organs shall serve in such organs for a period of four years and shall be eligible for reelection or reappointment for another period of four years only provided that an officer elected or appointed to fill a vacancy shall notwithstanding be eligible for election to the same office for two terms.
“(ii) No member shall serve in the same office for more than eight years continuously except a member of the Board of Trustees or a person who first came to the office by filling a vacancy.
“(iii) No member can be an officer at the national abs state levels or national organ of the party concurrently other than being an ex-officio member of that organ
Article 20 deals with elections and appointment.
It says: “All party posts prescribed or implied by this constitution shall be filled by democratically conducted elections at the respective national convention or congress subject, where possible to consensus, provided that where a candidate has emerged by consensus for an elective position, a vote of yes or no by ballot or voice shall be called to ensure that it was not an imposition which could breed discontent and crisis.”
It was however learnt that the pro-Oyegun-led NWC elements were unsure of the team, especially the National Chairman, coming back through elective process.
Oshiomhole tops pecking order
It was learnt that ex-Governor Adams Oshiomhole was topping the search list of potential candidates for the office of APC National Chairman.
“Many party leaders are making a strong case for Oshiomhole. In fact, Edo APC does not support tenure elongation.
“If you begin to have problem from home, then the game might be up,” a party leader said.

By Adoga Michael Oyi


Media mogul, Dele Momodu has disclosed that Senate President Bukola Saraki will join the 2019 presidential race.
Momodu said this in a lengthy statement on his ‘Boss Newspaper’.
It read in part: “The Boss can exclusively reveal that Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki has joined the 2019 Presidential race.
“There is no doubt that he would be a formidable force that should not be ignored because only few politicians in Nigeria today have the pedigree, the experience, the clout and the connection of Senator Saraki.
“Impeccable sources reveal that as he plots his move for the Presidency, he is said to be considering building alliances with all Nigerians of like minds.
“He is also considering using the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu as his running mate. Having already exhibited the ability to work seamlessly with politicians from the two main political parties, it is a path he can easily thread.
“Having risen to the enviable position of the number three citizen, the only place to go for the two-term Senator and former two-term governor is up! Indeed, Saraki is not new to the dynamics of power politics, he is the scion of a political dynasty that is well-known across the nation.
“He has all the criteria that a modern Nigerian president should have, he is tall, urbane, suave, charismatic, cool and collected. But behind this charm, is a man of steel who is never afraid to pursue causes that he feels are right and just.
“Saraki is one of those rare breeds who is street smart as well as book smart. This was evident when he steered his political path away from his father, and triumphed without breaking up the family or the people’s faith in his leadership abilities.
“Those who know, say he is counting on his youthfulness and ability to connect with the youths and his strategy will be to spread the “I am one of you” message and show his track record of working with young technocrats and turning them into prolific achievers.
“Of course, like everything in life, Saraki would have to navigate through thorny paths to reach the Presidential Villa, he surely has many challenges ahead.
“The most important challenge, according to our source, is the perception that he is corrupt This has been a damaging blow to his profile, little wonder that Saraki has not taken this allegation lying down.”

By Adoga Michael Oyi

The Taraba Police command on Friday night saved one Alhaji Yakubu Atiku from kidnappers and killed five suspects set to perpetrate the act.
The suspects had stormed Atiku’s home in Garba-Chede, Gassol Local Government Area of the state.
They ran out of luck as operatives stormed the scene after being notified.
In the ensuing exchange of gunfire, the police killed five of the attackers, the spokesman of the command, ASP David Misal, confirmed at a news conference on Saturday in Jalingo.
Misal said: “The operatives attached to Bali Division on March 30 at 2300 hrs engaged a group of armed men suspected to be kidnappers and armed robbers.
“The hoodlums on the same date invaded the residence of one Alhaji Yakubu Atiku of Garba-Chede in an attempt to kidnap him.
“The report was received with swift reaction from our operatives which led to an exchange of fire from both sides.
“With the superior fire power of our gallant officers, five members of the gang were shot dead while others escaped with bullet wounds”.
He added that one AK47 rifle, one pump action, two single barrel guns, 16 cartridges, three expended 7.62mm ammunition, two expended cartridges and assorted charms were recovered from the suspects.
He assured residents that the police would not relent in its efforts until kidnapping and armed robbery is reduced to the barest minimum.

Misal further appealed to members of the public to always report criminal acts to the police for effective response.

By Adoga Michael Oyi

The current update disclose according to a report by newsmen, Leah Sharibu, the only student of Government Girls Science and Technical College, Dapchi, still in Boko Haram custody, reportedly made an unsuccessful attempt to escape.
The insurgents abducted 110 students on February 19 and released them a month later, with the exception of Sharibu and five students who died in captivity.
They reportedly held Sharibu back for refusing to renounce her Christian faith.
Some of Sharibu’s schoolmates said while in custody, she had sneaked away with two other girls — but was unfortunate to walk into the wrong arms.
“We thought she was just going round the corner, but she sneaked out along with Maryam and Amira (the other two classmates),” Aisha Ibiwa, one of the girls, told UK Guardian.
They were said to have walked for three days in the course of their escape from the insurgents. A family they met for help on how to return home to Dapchi rather facilitated their return to the insurgents.
Hajara Adamu, another of Leah’s friends, recalled: “The Fulani man (from the family) said to them, ‘so you are the missing girls that we’ve heard about on the radio.’ He gave them a jerrycan filled with cow’s milk and brought them back.”
“Leah and her group weren’t flogged. They [Boko Haram] said it was because they had suffered a lot while trying to escape.”
Adamu said she had also tried to escape but suffered same fate as Sharibu.
She added that the insurgents laughed at them for attempting to escape, mocking them that “we wanted to go back to the land of unbelievers.”
While in custody, the girls recalled that one of the Boko Haram leaders whom they knew as “the Khalifa” came to see them every week.
During those visits, he was said to have told them they would not stay for too long in custody.
“We don’t have any issue with you – our issue is with the government,” he had told them, according to Adamu. “They’ve taken our men. Don’t worry, you’ll all go home soon.”
“He’d take off his balaclava and say: ‘You shouldn’t go back to Nigeria. It’s a country of sinners and unbelievers. When you go back, convince your parents to come back here to the Islamic caliphate with you.’”

By Adoga Michael Oyi

As we join Christians in the celebration of
Easter, may we truly reflect on the quintessential
modus vivendi of Master Jesus; The Christ, who
peregrinated this incarnation as an exempli
gratia of self abnegation, puritanical
excrescence, spartan discipline, mental
magnitude, hierophantic candour and altruistic
effusions,qualities which have become a
desiderata for national resurgimento.

“Beyond the fugacious razzmatazz of the
moment, I seriously call attention to the
rutilanting and coruscating modus vivendi of
Master Jesus the Christ and I dare pontificate
that save and until we viscerally emblematize
the virtues of self-immolation, quintessential
abnegation, eulogizeable simplicity, Christ-like
humility and immerse ourselves in a platonic
emotionalism of agape love and communalistic
service, we would have woefully failed in learning
and imbibing the true meaning of EASTER.
We must elevate this moment from a proscenium
of joie de vivre into one of meditative
transcendentalism”.
HAPPY EASTER.