The progressive signature of Pope Francis on the Vatican was unmistakable from the beginning of his papacy. Since the Catholic pontiff died on Easter Monday the remarkable positions taken by the Bishop of Rome on many socio-economic and political issues have been amply acknowledged in tributes from diverse quarters. The Pope stood for world peace. He preached compassion. He opposed the widening inequality and social injustice which define the world. He cautioned against irresponsibility in matters of climate change. He appointed women to positions of responsibility in the Vatican. He condemned the suffering of women and children as Israel bombed the occupied territory of Gaza just as he rejected anti-Semitism.  With his immense moral authority, the Pope took many other steps in solidarity with the poor and the weak. Expectedly, the difference that Pope Francis was making attracted the attention of observers globally.

It could be a fitting farewell to Pope Francis to reproduce a tribute that this reporter paid to the pontiff on this page on Christmas Day 2013. It was entitled “Pope Francis, Truly of the People.”

Below is the piece:    

“As Pope Francis celebrates his first Christmas today in the Vatican as the leader of Catholics all over the world, it may be apposite to draw attention to the emerging character of his papacy.

“At least one discernible trait in the doctrinal development taking place in the Vatican is quite relevant to the message of Christmas: Pope Francis has reinvigorated the message of compassion which is at the heart of Christianity and other great religions.

“In other words, it is important to spare a thought about the social relevance of evangelism. It is on this point that Pope Francis is a leader to watch.

“Take a sample.

“On his twitter page last Thursday, the Pope said: ‘Let us pray that God grant us the grace of knowing a world where no one dies of hunger’.

“Now that is a great departure from the sort of evangelism that blames the victims of hunger; some other leaders of faith would say the hungry man is suffering from the consequence of his sins. Doubtless, the pontiff is carrying out a reform of the message issuing from the church. Some would even call what is taking place a revolution of sorts. There is no way you could be honestly critical of the world in which millions of human beings live in abject poverty without being critical of the dominant ideology of the age. It is such a case that mass poverty is what global capitalism has got to show for its so-called ideological triumph in the cold war. “Hence, Pope Francis has been unequivocal in his criticism of the recklessness of neo-liberal capitalism, which has wreaked havoc in the economies of even the developed capitalist societies. He has condemned the growing inequality in the global economic system.  He has never assumed the posture of a technical expert; he has only demonstrated a social conscience in his faith. This is the lesson other religious leaders should learn from the Pope. The Pope has been reported as posing this sobering question: ‘How can it be that it is not a news item when an elderly homeless person dies of exposure, but it is news when the stock market loses two points?’ It is a question that those who glibly proclaim the end of ideology should sometimes ponder.

“On another occasion, he said: ‘People continue to defend trickle-down theories which assume that economic growth … will bring about greater justice in the world. This opinion expresses a naive trust in the goodness of those wielding economic power.’ The matter is put more explicitly when the Pope argues as follows: ‘As long as the problems of the poor are not resolved by rejecting the absolute autonomy of markets … no solution will be found for the world’s problems or, for that matter, to any problems.

“By the way, these random quotations from the statements that the Pope has made in the last few months are merely to illustrate the clarity of purpose in his message. More significantly, the fact that these statements are made by the Pope makes them to be weighty in global terms. After all, there was a Pope who was reputed to be a member of the ideological tripod that facilitated the ‘collapse of communism’. This is a frequent reference to the ideological roles of former American President Ronald Reagan, former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and Pope John Paul in the days of the cold war. Similarly, the message of Pope Francis is resonating today in liberal and conservative quarters. However, unlike Pope John Paul, Pope Francis does not appear destined to be a hero of the Right. Members of the Tea Party in the United States already see something red about the Pope, which the rest of the world is, perhaps, not seeing yet.

“Little surprise that those who are cocooned in the extreme right corner of the ideological spectrum are quick to dub the Pope a ‘Marxist’ for his message of compassion for the poor in a Christ-like manner.  Interestingly, the Pope has defended himself unambiguously against the charges of ‘Marxism’. He said: ‘Marxist ideology is wrong. But in my life I have met a lot of Marxists who are good people, so I do not feel offended… That does not mean being a Marxist.’ It is also instructive that as an Argentine, the Pope has lived under the regime of neo-liberal orthodoxy in economic management with its socially destructive consequences.

“He is no stranger to the effects of global capitalism on the quality of life of the poor. Yet he is no liberation theologian. If anything, he is on record to have been critical of the leftist liberation theologians in Latin America in those days.

“Pope Francis is only reminding the Church of the primary question of compassion in its origins; this is a question that market forces do not yet have an answer. You don’t have to be a communist to appreciate this fact about humanity. All that is needed is to be socially sensitive to the widening inequality in the world today. This is the point that the conservative segment of the Pope’s audience should always bear in mind, as they are wont to assail him with ideological criticisms. It is cheery news that not a few observers across the ideological spectrum are   watching the doctrinal direction in the Vatican with keen interest.

“The TIME Magazine seems to capture the essence of the new direction of the Pope when it declared him ‘Person of the Year’ last week for ‘pulling the papacy out of the palace and into the streets, for committing the world’s largest church to confronting its deepest needs and for balancing judgment with mercy…’ Besides, he has made a forceful case for a ‘greater presence’ of women in the church. There is a lot of truth in the observation which the magazine puts like this: ‘These days it is bracing to hear a leader say anything that annoys anyone. Now liberals and conservatives alike face a choice as they listen to a new voice of conscience: Which matters more, that this charismatic leader is saying things they think need to be said or that he is also saying things they’d rather not hear?’

“It is refreshing to know that the message from the Vatican is not only about abortion and homosexuals. While he maintains the fundamental views of the church on these largely social and biological issues, he is nudging the church away from getting fixated on the issues. On homosexuality, he once asked: ‘who am I to judge?’  Now, this is far from being rhetorical. It is a possible call for a rethink.

“What is, however, not in dispute is that poverty and inequality are doing a greater havoc to humanity. In words and action, the Pope is reminding the world of this material reality.

“The Pope exudes humility and prefers a simple life. Some other men of God do not see the contradiction between their lives of opulence (sometimes bordering on obscenity) and the poverty of the majority in the congregation. By rejecting the burgeoning inequality in the world today and making compassion a focus of evangelism, Pope Francis truly belongs to the people.”

Yes, the foregoing was just a humble observation of Pope Francis nine months after his papacy began. From the tributes now being paid across the globe to his memory since he died two days ago, the beautiful story of Pope Francis has been that of “morning shows the day.” Some of the great things being said today about Pope Francis were already manifest 12 years ago when he became the head of the Catholic Church.

He held on to his faith to the last minute.

May the compassion, justice and peace about which Pope Francis consistently preached to the world come to pass.

In a time when most religious homilies have been reduced to performative sermons void of national relevance, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto continues to remind Nigerians that the pulpit can still be a place of truth, courage, and accountability. His 2025 Easter Message, delivered during the Holy Saturday Service, is not just a homily, it is a clarion call that holds a mirror up to the Nigerian state and its leadership. In a country plagued by hypocrisy and muffled truths, Bishop Kukah’s sermon is, indeed, worth digesting and ruminating over.

His message, rich in metaphor and grounded in the harsh realities of Nigeria, forces us to reckon with the nation’s spiritual and socio-political condition. Using the cross as a metaphor, Kukah paints a grim yet honest portrait of a country bleeding from every corner, crippled by insecurity, hunger, and poor governance. He doesn’t mince words, and in doing so, he does what many in positions of influence fear: he speaks truth to power.

Kukah opens his homily by drawing a parallel between the crucifixion of Christ and the suffering of Nigerians. He refers to the nation’s current situation as being akin to dangling on a cross, innocent, tortured, and abandoned. “Mr. President, Nigeria is reaching a breaking point. The nation is gradually becoming a huge national morgue,” he warns.

This metaphor is not poetic exaggeration, it is brutally accurate. From Sokoto to Enugu, Maiduguri to Lagos, families wake up unsure of whether they or their loved ones will fall victim to the day’s dose of savagery. Kidnappings, killings, and general insecurity have become so normalized that the announcement of tragedies barely elicits shock anymore. Nigeria, Kukah rightly notes, is hanging on a cross constructed by decades of political recklessness, but now, the nails are being driven deeper by a government that seems increasingly detached from the agony below.

One of the boldest elements of the homily is Kukah’s direct address to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. “Mr. President, we all admit that you neither erected this cross nor did you effect our collective crucifixion,” he says, acknowledging that Tinubu inherited a mess. But that is where the understanding ends. The bishop swiftly pivots to reality: Nigerians are tired of hanging on this cross.

Kukah demands action, not explanations, not excuses. His tone is firm but not disrespectful, clear but not confrontational. In a country where sycophancy has become a norm among many religious leaders, his audacity to call on the President to “bring us down from this cross” is not only refreshing but necessary.

Kukah does not dwell only on physical suffering. He expands the discussion to the moral and psychological torment of Nigerians. He highlights the culture of cynicism, hopelessness, and loss of faith in leadership. The bishop reminds Christians, however, that Easter is fundamentally a season of hope, hope that defies logic and endures beyond pain.

This is a critical spiritual and philosophical insight. Nigerians have endured so much pain that many no longer expect improvement, they merely hope to survive. And this is dangerous. A nation that no longer expects progress that no longer believes in its future is on a fast track to implosion. Kukah is essentially saying: reigniting hope is not just spiritual, it is political. It must be backed by tangible action.

In what could be described as one of the most piercing portions of the homily, Kukah calls out the futility of palliative-driven policies. He rightly points out that “mere palliative distribution diminishes the dignity of citizens.” Nigeria has become a nation where government handouts are presented as policy achievements, and Kukah is having none of it.

He presses the President to make food security a fundamental right, not a seasonal handout. His challenge goes beyond hunger. It speaks to the heart of a broken governance system, one that has mastered the art of temporary relief but fails at sustainable solutions.

Kukah’s homily takes a darker turn when he reminds Nigerians that some of today’s bandits were once political tools. “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.” This is a chilling revelation, and one that indicts the political class across board. It lays bare the reality that Nigeria’s insecurity is not an accident, it is, in part, a consequence of calculated greed and a hunger for power.

Now, these political tools have mutated into monsters. They no longer take orders, they issue them. Kukah warns that Nigeria’s very foundation is under threat from these “ravenous predators.” If these threats are not dismantled immediately, Nigeria risks becoming a failed state in both function and soul.

Kukah ends his message with a dire warning: that government inaction is beginning to look suspicious. He questions whether the persistence of insecurity is due to incompetence or whether those in power are benefiting from the chaos. “Are Nigerians lambs being sacrificed to an unknown god?” he asks. That’s not just a rhetorical question; it’s a haunting accusation.

This is perhaps the most damning part of the homily. It questions the very moral fiber of the nation’s leadership. Is the state merely overwhelmed, or is it compromised? Are our leaders simply helpless, or are they profiting from our helplessness?

Even as Kukah critiques and challenges the nation’s leaders, he does not lose sight of the essence of Easter. He reminds Christians that Christ’s resurrection is the ultimate emblem of hope. This is not a message of despair, it is a call to action, a spiritual charge to believe again, act again, and reclaim our country.

Kukah’s sermon is what a prophetic message should be: bold, honest, faith-filled, and politically aware. It is a message that should make leaders uncomfortable and citizens reflective. It is a sermon that forces us to think, not just about what is, but about what ought to be.

In a country starved of sincerity, Bishop Kukah’s 2025 Easter message serves as both mirror and map. It reflects the nation’s failings with unapologetic clarity, and at the same time, offers a roadmap for renewal. This is no ordinary sermon, it is a national document of conscience.

Nigeria needs more leaders like Kukah, who are not afraid to tell uncomfortable.

Rivers State, one of Nigeria’s most strategically important states politically and economically, has lately become a theatre of absurdity, where the rules of democratic governance have been replaced with the treacherous tactics of a chessboard. The unfolding drama, characterized by betrayals, power tussles, underhanded moves, and calculated silence, raises a pertinent question: Who is really playing Rivers State like a political chessboard to satisfy his selfish ambition?

From the outside, it may look like a mere clash between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). But look deeper and you will see a more sinister power play, one where the state is being treated like a pawn in a much larger, more dangerous game.

Rivers State was not always like this. Known for its rich oil resources and vibrant people, the state used to stand as a symbol of strength in the Niger Delta. However, in recent years, it has become increasingly evident that political godfatherism has entrenched itself in the corridors of power. At the center of this debacle is the unresolved tension between Wike and Fubara, an embarrassing soap opera that has eroded the state’s dignity.

Governor Fubara was supposedly Wike’s protégé. He emerged as the governorship candidate under controversial circumstances, allegedly handpicked by Wike himself to serve as a placeholder for the minister’s extended influence. But like many political godsons who suddenly find themselves in power, Fubara is now resisting the overbearing hand of his godfather.

Let’s be brutally honest, no political chess game is played without a grandmaster. Someone is holding the strings, someone with a national ambition, someone who sees Rivers State not as a place of people and culture, but as a stronghold to consolidate power. The state’s politics are being manipulated, not for development or peace, but for raw political gain. Wike, known for his brash and confrontational style, has refused to let go of power, and his desperation for political relevance, perhaps as a future presidential or vice-presidential hopeful, has led to the current debacle.

His hand is seen in every move, covert and overt. From the sudden defection of lawmakers loyal to him, to the persistent impeachment plots against Fubara, and his eventual suspension as a state of emergency was declared, to his unguarded utterances while chaos brews, Wike appears to be orchestrating every move, like a general moving pieces on a board. The question is: to what end?

This is not the first time Nigeria is witnessing a fallout between a political godfather and a godson. From Lagos to Kano, this unholy arrangement has always ended in disaster. But the Rivers State case is particularly worrisome because it appears the state’s interest is not even a factor in the equation. Developmental concerns, governance, and the welfare of the people have all been sacrificed at the altar of ego and ambition.

The 2023 elections were meant to mark a turning point for Rivers. Instead, the elections handed the state back to a shadowy cabal determined to hold it hostage. The current rift has paralyzed governance. Projects have stalled. The civil service is in limbo. Tensions are so high that even security agencies are reportedly taking sides. Is this what Rivers people voted for?

Let’s not romanticize Fubara as an innocent victim either. He knew the game he was getting into. He knew he was handpicked for a reason, to be loyal to Wike. But the moment he attempted to assert his independence, the game changed. This is a classic case of a pawn trying to become a king. His newfound resistance, though commendable in democratic terms, appears reactive rather than strategic. He has failed to build the kind of political coalition necessary to withstand a force like Wike, and his political naivety is becoming more apparent by the day.

However, one cannot entirely blame him. He was placed in office under the illusion of loyalty and expected to dance to a tune that was never his. When he tried to compose his own music, the conductor cut him off.

The most tragic part of this game is the suffering of the ordinary people of Rivers State. While political elites are busy plotting their next move, ordinary citizens are grappling with poor infrastructure, worsening insecurity, environmental degradation, and a dwindling economy. The recent destruction of public properties, factional loyalist violence, and breakdown of legislative functions are telltale signs that the state is dangerously teetering on the edge of anarchy.

The question, then, is not just who is playing the game, but why the people of Rivers are allowing themselves to be played.

We must also look at the wider political implications. The All Progressives Congress (APC), which now counts Wike as one of its strongest backers at the national level, is watching this crisis unfold with keen interest. Wike’s crossover from PDP to APC, in all but name, has allowed him to leverage the federal structure in his favor, putting Governor Fubara in a precarious position. It is as though the state is being offered as a political dowry to the APC in exchange for Wike’s ambitions down the line.

This political chess game is not confined to Rivers alone. It is a dangerous template that, if left unchecked, will spread to other states. What Wike is doing in Rivers today, others will replicate tomorrow. The presidency’s silence over the entire saga is even more troubling. Are they tacitly approving this method of control?

Nigeria’s democracy is still growing, and this growth is being stunted by political desperadoes who believe in power for power’s sake. The Rivers State situation is a clarion call for political maturity. It is time for Rivers leaders, both past and present, to rise above personal ambition and put the state first.

Civil society groups, traditional rulers, and respected elders in the Niger Delta must intervene. The National Assembly should not be silent while a federating unit is being torn apart by a selfish political feud. And Rivers people must rise and demand better. Their state should not be reduced to a mere pawn in someone’s ambition.

So, who is playing Rivers State like a political chessboard? The signs are clear. The moves are obvious. The ambition is evident.

It is time for Rivers people to say, “Enough is enough.” The state deserves better than being reduced to a political playground for personal ego trips. Until Rivers is allowed to breathe, grow, and function without the suffocating grip of self-styled godfathers, its future will remain uncertain, just another pawn in a never-ending game of political chess.

And just like in chess, when pawns are carelessly played, they are easily sacrificed. The people of Rivers must not allow themselves to be sacrificed. Not this time.

The new terrorist group, Mahmuda, has intensified its attacks at various communities in Kwara and Niger States.

Suspected members of the new terrorist group, Mahmuda, were said to have attacked communities in Ilesha Baruba and Kemaanji, Baruten and Kaiama local government areas of Kwara State on Sunday night.

They had on Friday reportedly killed some vigilantes in the state.

Daily Trust gathered that the assailants, who were on military camouflage riding motorcycles, stormed a market square at 9:30 pm and opened fire on the residents before they zoomed off.

Four Fulani, a vigilante and a 19-year-old teenager, who was hit by a stray bullet reportedly lost their lives during the attack.

According to a resident of the area, the fresh incident is coming in the wake of a similar attack the same day in neighbouring Kaiama where a vigilante was killed.

Speaking to Daily Trust yesterday on the Baruten incident, the source said: “We suspect that they came with a premeditated motive because they fired at the Fulani at close range shooting them in the head. The vigilante was holding a dane gun and they saw him as a threat. But the boy was hit by a stray bullet.

“The place is a very popular trading spot with a lot of business and commercial activities. It was a sudden attack believed to be a reprisal over alleged collaboration with the security agencies against the terrorists”, the resident said.

The new terrorist group was said to have been killing and kidnapping people at Kemaanji, Tenebo, Baabete, Nuku, and Nanu villages in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State and communities in Yashikira District of Baruten LGA, also in Kwara as well as in Babana and Wawa districts of Borgu LGA of Niger State.

Despite the successes which the federal government said it had recorded in containing the attacks, security and intelligence experts say the escalated attacks by terrorists, especially the emergence Mahmuda, indicate that the fight against terrorism should be intensified.

Some of the experts, who spoke to Daily Trust, alleged that the emergence of the new terrorist group casts a doubt on the credibility of the country’s intelligence system.

Non-state actors targeting vigilantes in reprisal attack – Gov AbdulRazaq

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq yesterday led a delegation that comprised top military and intelligence chiefs to visit Kaiama to assess the security concerns and reinforce inter-agency collaboration across border communities.

Speaking during the “strategic security interface” with the Emir of Kaiama, Alh Muazu Shehu Omar and other critical stakeholders, said the incident was a reprisal attack by non-state actors targeting vigilantes.

He assured the state government was working with the military and other relevant agencies to bring peace to the affected communities and dislodge the terrorists.

“What we are seeing today is the non-state actors targeting the vigilantes in a reprisal attack and this will come to pass. This is because we are working with the military who have visited the place, made contact and had robust engagement”, he said.

The governor said the state government would ensure that peace returned to the Kainji National Park axis.

How Mahmuda emerged

Mahmuda was said to have migrated from Mokwa in Niger State and had visibly occupied the Kainji Lake National Park over five years ago when they raided the park and chased out the Range Guards.

Some reports have claimed that the Mahmuda group is another breakaway faction of the Shekau-led Boko Haram but with “moderate” ideology and connection to other groups in Benin/Niger Republic. They referred to themselves as the Mahmuda Group or Mallam Group, their leader’s name.

But the Kwara State Police Command had, in a statement by its spokeswoman, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, denied the existence of the Mahmuda terrorist group and the reported killing of 15 vigilantes by the group.

“Our comprehensive and continuous threat assessments, intelligence surveillance and tactical reconnaissance operations in these areas have yielded no evidence of insurgent activity, coordinated terrorist formations, or mass casualty incidents as described.

“The claim of 15 vigilantes being killed is entirely false and devoid of any factual basis”, she added.

Residents of Kwara State said the Mahmuda terrorist group had been operating in the affected communities of Yashikira district of Baruten including Kemaanji, Wajibe, and Nuku among others in Kaiama for over five years.

They said the group started as a religious body, giving sermons about their form of Islam.

Locals said the group had attracted many teenagers as fighters and informants.

“Before now, we had called the attention of the authorities and security operatives to their growing influence and it was only recently that the military led a major onslaught against them which included aerial bombardments, killing many of them,” a resident, Alhaji Haruna Idirissa, said.

Adequate security deployment in place – Police

The Kwara State Police Command assured residents of the affected communities that adequate security deployments were in place and being reinforced to forestall any threat to peace and order.

“Citizens are urged to go about their lawful activities without fear, while remaining vigilant and cooperative with law enforcement.

“Let it be clearly stated that any individual or group attempting to undermine the safety of our communities will be decisively dealt with in accordance with the law”, the spokeswoman, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, said in a statement on Tuesday.

We’re living in fear – Kwara monarch

The Emir of Yashikira Alhaji Umaru Seriki, yesterday said his subjects were living in fear over attacks by the new terrorist group.

“The attacks are not only in Baruten and Kaiama local governments of Kwara State, but also Borgu Kingdom in Niger State.

“Last week, the terrorists destroyed the security vehicle bought by the people for operations by the vigilantes”, he said.

Senate’s alert on Mahmuda in 2022

The Senate had, in 2022, alerted the military over terrorists’ hideouts in communities in the three local government areas of Kwara and Niger States.

The Senate had, at that time, specifically urged the military to carry out a detailed onslaught of bandits and criminal elements within Kainji Lake National Park and the identified communities.

This followed the consideration of a motion on the “worsening insecurity in Kainji Lake National Park and existential threat to communities in Kaima, Baruten and Borgu Local Government in Kwara and Niger States.”

The motion was sponsored by the lawmaker representing Kwara North Senatorial District, Senator Sadiq Umar and co-sponsored by the Deputy Whip, Senator Aliyu Abdullahi, representing Niger North.

Last month, a media report quoted a security expert, Zagazola Makama, as alleging that a detained militant arrested in Kaima community by vigilante forces provided critical intelligence regarding the group’s latest movements and operational structure.

From 1 terrorist group to 5

Nigeria is currently grappling with deadly activities of five terrorist groups: Boko Haram, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), Lakurawa, Ansaru and Mahmuda.

Boko Haram

The Jamā’at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da’wah wa’l-Jihād, popularly known as Boko Haram, began in Niger State but is now domiciled in Borno after the split that produced the late Abubakar Shekau.

The Boko Haram fighters have also attacked villages in Yobe and Adamawa States. Boko Haram is said to be also active in Chad, Niger, northern Cameroon and Mali. Since the insurgency started in 2009, the group has reportedly killed tens of thousands of people in frequent attacks against the police, armed forces and civilians.

The activities of the sect were said to have resulted in the deaths of more than 300,000 children and the displacement of 2.3 million people from their homes according to a UN report by Al Jazeera in June 2021.

The Boko Haram sect gained global notoriety when it reportedly kidnapped more than 200 school girls from Chibok village in Borno State in 2014.

Lakurawa

The Lakurawa militant group emerged within Sokoto and Kebbi states in north-western Nigeria and across the border with Niger. It initially promised to help the government tackle banditry but later became deadly with affiliations to groups in Mali and Niger. It was recently declared a terrorist organisation by the Nigerian government and banned across the country following several attacks in local communities. It has killed several people in many North West states.

ISWAP

The Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP), is said to be an offshoot of Boko Haram with which it has a violent rivalry. Until March 2022, ISWAP had reportedly acted as an umbrella organisation for all IS factions in West Africa, including the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (IS-GS) which gave it access to resources and technical assistance. It recently deployed four armed drones carrying locally made grenades in an attack on the Forward Operating Base in the Wajikoro area of Borno, reportedly leaving about five soldiers injured. Their ISWAP’s fighters’ use of weaponised drones marked a significant shift in the group’s tactics. The military had reportedly thwarted plans to establish bases in Plateau and Bauchi States from its base in the North East just like Boko Haram.

Ansaru

Ansar is observed to be active in the North-West and the North-Central where bandits and kidnappers also operate. It is reported to be a former faction of Boko Haram that rejected Shekau leadership after the death of Yusuf. The group announced in 2012 that it had pledged allegiance to al-Qaeda and was independent. Despite this, Ansaru and other Boko Haram factions continued to work closely together until the former increasingly declined and stopped its insurgent activities in 2013. Unlike Boko Haram, which is largely based in Borno State in the North East, Ansaru operated in and around Kano State and some parts of North Central and its environs. It claimed responsibility for a prison break at the Special Anti-Robbery Squad headquarters in Abuja in November 2012 among several other kidnapping activities that involved foreigners.

‘Convert forests occupied by terrorists into productive centres’

A retired director of the Department of State Security (DSS), Dr Abdulsalam Bolakale Suleiman, the Nigerian government must be strategic and proactive in dealing with the situation, saying it is beyond throwing troops at the terrorist groups.

He said unless the government converts the large swathe of forests which the terrorists occupy in Sambisa and Kainji Lake, among others, into productive centres, it will be difficult to make progress.

“These vast forests with boundaries linking several states and countries must be occupied otherwise it will be difficult. They should also look towards engaging and equipping forest guards, many of whom have abandoned the forests now and most importantly the government should look seriously into the issue of human security in food, economy, health, community and environment among others.

“These terrorists are luring and enticing recruits and even locals in some instances with money. Taking troops to them who are not even well motivated will not help us”, the retired DSS director said.

‘NSA Office, security agencies have questions to answer’

An intelligence and counter-terrorism expert, Abdullahi Garba, in an interview with Daily Trust, wondered why there was no intelligence about Mahmuda group before it emerged.

“I think the DSS, DIA and NIA have questions to answer regarding how the new terror group penetrated the country, because their coming is not spontaneous.

“Why do we have intelligence agencies if we can’t determine this type of scenario in our country? In countering terrorism, intelligence agencies need to do more. They should ensure that no stone is left unturned.

“There is a way DSS and other intelligence agencies can get this type of information before it boomerangs if they want to genuinely get it. I won’t reveal this strategy, they also know,” he said.

Security agencies mum

When contacted, the spokesman of the Nigeria police Force, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, directed our correspondent to the military for a reaction.

One of our correspondents contacted the Director, Defence Media Operations, Major-General Markus Kangye and the head of the National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC), the Centre, Major-General Adamu Garba Laka, but they neither answered several calls nor replied to messages sent their mobile telephone lines.

But a highly-placed source in the NCTC, who did not want to be mentioned, said the police and the DSS had swung into action to contain the activities of the new terrorist group.

He said, “As it stands now, the police and the DSS operatives are working round the clock to ensure that the activities of the new terror group are curtailed.

“It is not an external stuff, it is already an internal thing, and the police as a lead agency in maintaining internal security have taken over. The results will be obvious soon.”

‘Constitute intelligence expert committee’

A retired Assistant Commissioner of Police, Saka Fagade, urged the federal government to “constitute a proper committee comprising of experts that have worked in intelligence outfits in the private and government sectors whether serving or retired on security issues that should be saddled with the responsibility of tackling the situation.”

“Security issues are very complex but Nigeria can handle this situation. If I have the best idea now, I will also have to be very conscious of my safety too but in an enclosed environment with no fear of exposure, I will be able to talk.

“Insurgents are intelligent people, whether we want to accept it or not. How are we sure that some of these officials are not their financials, these are the issues and it’s not something that we should handle with kid gloves otherwise, it will continue to get worse”, Fagade said.

On his part, Ajayi Okasanmi, one of the longest serving police Public reaction officers in the country before his retirement last year, told Daily Trust that the situation needs a holistic approach.

According to him, “70 percent can be attributed to political calculations and mechanisations.

“About 70 percent of the reason for this can be attributed to political calculations and machinations among the political gladiators.

“When this present government came on board, the security situation like kidnapping and banditry which Nigerians were not hitherto known for went down and all the security agencies collaborated. Suddenly as we get to the period of politicking again, we have started to experience the issue in various forms.

“What we can do as a nation is to put aside our political inclinations and unite as Nigerians to defeat this scourge. The federal and state governments are doing their best but there appears to be some people hellbent in making sure that the country does not have peace.

“While I want to believe the police that there is no terror group in Kwara, that does not say the security agencies should go to sleep with the belief that it cannot not happen.

“Rather they should put more effort into ensuring that the state remains peaceful. The moment it is planted in Kwara State, it may be very difficult to treat just as we are witnessing in Borno, Adamawa, Kebbi and the rest of the places. More importantly, this is a collective responsibility and everybody must unite to defeat it”, Okasanmi, who is not a security consultant, added.

Nigerians are worried as the security situation in Benue State worsens, particularly with regards to the herders-farmers conflict, banditry, kidnapping, gangsterism, and cult violence.

DAILY POST gathered that since the administration of the immediate past governor, Samuel Ortom and the coming on board of Governor Hyacinth Alia, the state has been faced with a plethora of security challenges.

The state has experienced a significant decline in farming activities due to the activities of bandits and terrorists, who attacked farming communities, abducted, and killed several farmers and dislocated many communities.

At least fifty-six people have been confirmed dead in Gbagir, Ukum Local Government Area and Logo Local Government Area, both in the Sankera axis of Benue state.

The state governor, Hyacinth Alia made the disclosure after confirming earlier that seventeen people were killed in the attack.

Also, the state police command in a statement, noted that while the Gbagir operation was ongoing, another group of militia simultaneously attacked the neighbouring Logo Local Government Area, killing scores of people.

DAILY POST reports that the governor had urged residents of the state facing attacks from suspected Fulani herdsmen not to resort to self-help.

“The prompt response in Ukum was made possible by early intelligence, which helped prevent an even more devastating outcome.

“The state government, in conjunction with the Office of the National Security Adviser, is developing a strategic plan to end the killings by suspected invaders. Remain vigilant and volunteer timely information to security agencies,” he said.
Unidentified gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen have been launching attacks on the Otobi Akpa community in Benue State.

The recent one left at least 13 people dead, several others injured or missing, and over 50 houses destroyed.

The violence started around 6:00pm on the ill-fatted day near Otobi Junction when armed herdsmen launched an assault on the town, shooting sporadically.

“Otobi Akpa has historically been a peaceful part of Idoma land and had coexisted with herding communities for many years. However, tensions have risen in recent times over open grazing and related security concerns,” a community elder, Adikwu Ogbe said.

DAILY POST reports that the state’s Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Professor Moses Ogbaji, had noted that the criminal activities of bandits before now had severely impacted food security in the state and the country, as many farmers were unable to return to their farms due to fear of attacks.

“Nipping the ugly trend in the bud, the State government established the Benue State Civil Protection Guards, which is aimed at complementing the conventional security agencies and ensure the safety of communities and farmers,” Ogbaji said.

Lending his voice, the paramount ruler of the Tiv nation and chairman of the state traditional council, His Royal Majesty, Prof. James Ayatse, the Tor Tiv, supported the adoption of non-kinetic solutions to the crisis, including massive repatriation of displaced persons back to their homes.

According to him, the effort has aligned perfectly with the vision of Governor Hyacinth Iormem Alia’s administration of protecting the lives and property of all residents of Benue State.

DAILY POST reports that the Senator representing Benue South Senatorial District, Abba Moro, condemned in strong terms the attack on Otobi-Akpa community in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State, describing it as an unprovoked and unacceptable act of violence.

“My thoughts and prayers are with the people of Otobi-Akpa community in Otukpo LGA. The unprovoked attack on them remains condemned,” the Senator stated.

“The attack and several others before it on Benue South communities by killer herdsmen are unacceptable,” he said.

He added that the people of Benue South have the right to live and do their business peacefully without fear, threats, or harm.

Speaking to DAILY POST, the lawmaker representing Otukpo/Akpa State Constituency in the Benue State House of Assembly, Hon Angbo Kennedy, lamented the persistent bloodshed and called on security agencies to urgently intervene.

“It’s sad that innocent people are being slaughtered in their own homes. Our people cannot continue to live in fear in their ancestral homes.

“Residents should resort to self-defense since the needed help is not coming from the relevant authorities,” he opined.

Meanwhile, former Senate President, David Mark, has strongly condemned the recent wave of violent attacks by suspected armed herdsmen on several communities across Benue State.

Mark, who expressed deep concern over the spate of killings and destruction of property worth billions of naira in the affected areas, appealed for restraint and unity, warning against ethnic profiling or retaliatory violence.

A visibly distressed Senator Mark, however, acknowledged some progress by security operatives in addressing the crisis, stating:

“It is heartwarming that some of the beasts involved in the dastardly acts have been apprehended by security agents.

“I urge all concerned to do a diligent investigation and ensure that all the people immediately and remotely involved should be made to face the full wrath of the law.”

“I also call on the youths in our various communities to ensure vigilance and report any suspicious behaviour of people and their movements to law enforcement agencies to prevent reoccurrence,” he concluded.

Speaking to DAILY POST, the senatorial candidate All Progressives, APC, in the 2023 general elections, Comrade Dan Onjeh, frowned at the spate of insecurity bedeviling the state, especially, Benue south whose occupation is majorly farming, calling on the state and the federal government to expedite action and nip in the bud the ugly trend being perpetrated by the marauders and blood-sucking Fulani herdsmen.

Comrade Onjeh urged the people of Benue State to unite against rising insecurity and support Governor Hyacinth Alia’s administration, emphasizing that insecurity thrives in division.

Onjeh, a former Chairman of the Governing Board of the Project Development Institute (PRODA) Enugu, cited disturbing evidence of collusion between marauding herdsmen and unscrupulous elements within Benue communities.

“The testimony of a recent kidnap victim reveals the chilling reality: ‘his abductors were a mix of Fulani herdsmen and Idoma youths who brazenly seized him from his home in front of his family,” he said.

He lamented the fact that despite the Idoma people accommodating herdsmen in their communities for decades, the herdsmen brazenly perpetrate heinous crimes against their kind host.

“We least expect this from them. It’s akin to welcoming a guest, providing shelter and having them betray your hospitality by setting your house ablaze,” he stated.

[DailyPost]

Pastor Bayo Oluwayemi of Wonders Chapel has spoken on the importance of prioritising essential expenses over discretionary giving. 

While preaching, he cautioned against compromising one’s financial stability for the sake of religious obligations, encouraging individuals to thoughtfully consider their financial responsibilities. 

Oluwayemi argued that prioritising tithing over urgent needs can lead to financial hardship, stating the emphasis on on tithing can be manipulative. 

He urged his congregation to ensure their family’s needs are met before making church financial decisions.

The cleric said: “If your children school fees is due, don’t bring money to church, don’t mortgage your children future. That’s what religion does, it put you under rules, it puts you into slavery. ‘If you don’t pay tithe God will not bless you’, whereas your children school fees is due and the devil will continue to deceive you. is it God that needs the money or the church. I want to let you know, if  your children school fees is due, don’t bring money to church, don’t sell your children future. They’ve given you the mindset of curse.

” So on Monday you go to shop and somebody buys something from you and you don’t know where you place the money, and your heart goes to condemnation, ‘it’s because I didn’t pay tithe’, that is how manipulation comes”.

[TheNation]

Pope Francis’s open coffin was transferred Wednesday to St Peter’s Basilica for three days of lying in state, with thousands of people gathering to pay their respects to the leader of the world’s Catholics.

Bells from the basilica rang out as the wooden coffin was carried in procession past packed crowds in St Peter’s Square, accompanied by red-robed cardinals and the Vatican’s Swiss Guards.

Pilgrims and tourists snapped photos, with some applauding as the procession passed on its way from the Santa Marta residence, where the 88-year-old Argentine pontiff died Monday after a stroke.

Francis’s body had been held in the chapel of the Santa Marta, where he lived during his 12-year papacy, but will now lie in state at the basilica until Saturday’s funeral.

Anna Montoya, 33, from Mexico, was among those who arrived early to catch a glimpse of a man she said was like “a family member” to her.

“I had to come… it feels like I knew him,” she told AFP. “He was a good man. He represented what the church needs to be, what Jesus wanted to teach us.”

Francis’s coffin was placed before St Peter’s Altar of the Confession, where Bernini’s bronze baldacchino soars up towards Michelangelo’s famous dome. It was placed on a low bier, unlike the higher, more ornate platforms of his predecessors.

The funeral is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of pilgrims as well as world leaders, including US President Donald Trump and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky, as well as Britain’s Prince William.

Afterwards, Francis’s coffin will be taken to his favourite church, Rome’s papal basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, where it will be interred in the ground and marked by a simple inscription: Franciscus.

– ‘Sorely missed’ –

Italy is preparing a major security operation for the funeral, with the weekend already due to be busy because of a public holiday on Friday.

Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi said authorities were expecting 150 to 170 foreign delegations and tens of thousands of people.

Barriers have already been installed inside and outside the basilica to control the crowds, security checks have been increased and staff have been distributing bottles of water due to the warm weather.

Pasquale Apolito, a 43-year-old Rome teacher, said he was leaving the city later in the day but wanted to see the pontiff if he could.

“I’m not sure I’ll be able to see the body but I wanted to be here today. I felt something inside me this morning that told me to come,” he said.

“He was a guide for his capacity to listen, to welcome. He will be sorely missed.”

Italy has declared five days of national mourning — longer than the three days observed for Polish pope John Paul II in 2005, but less than the week declared for Francis by his native Argentina.

– Cardinals meeting –

After the funeral, all eyes will turn to the process to choose Francis’s successor as leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics.

Cardinals around the world have already been sent letters from the Holy See instructing them to return to Rome to select a new pope.

Only those under the age of 80 are eligible to vote in the conclave, which should begin no less than 15 days and no more than 20 days after the death of the pope.

About 60 cardinals of all ages already in Rome met on Tuesday to choose the funeral date, in a so-called “general congregation”.

A second meeting is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon, led by the camerlengo, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, who is charged with running the day-to-day operations of the Holy See before a successor to Francis is chosen.

Francis’s death came less than a month after he was discharged from the hospital, where he spent five weeks battling pneumonia in both lungs.

Despite doctors calling for two months of rest, Francis continued to make appearances in public during his convalescence, where he appeared short of breath and without energy.

On Easter Sunday, the day before his death, he circled St Peter’s Square in his “popemobile” following mass and his traditional address to greet the crowds, stopping to kiss babies along the way.

He died the next morning at 7:35 am after suffering a stroke, a coma and heart failure, according to his death certificate.

Sister Maria Guadeloupe Hernandez Olivo, from Mexico, said it was “very hard, very sad” to hear news of his death.

“I did not expect it,” she told AFP in St Peter’s Square. “I believe he’s in a better place, no longer suffering, but I do feel this emptiness for our pastor.”

AFP

The unveiling of the Artificial Intelligence Collective last week by Dr Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, is a good call by the Nigerian government to play a lead role in the development and deployment of AI to resolve socio-economic challenges while developing new opportunities.

The Collective is a gathering of experts and distinguished personalities from the tech industry, communications, academia, civil society and the private sector which, in the expectation of the government, will develop a strategy to build a sustainable AI ecosystem, one that supports innovation while safeguarding ethics and inclusion.

AI is more than the new kid on the block. It’s a monster that holds the keys to future economic growth and development. It has the capacity to do virtually anything, except probably standing on a street corner and whispering some love notes to a friend. AI has no feelings but has the capacity to achieve good.

My judgement call derives from the Minister’s conscious effort to put the country on the front row in building out an AI ecosystem that will be of more benefit to the nation while providing a template for the rest of the continent. There are always benefits for those who make the first move at the dawn of new technologies. They enjoy the advantages of the first movers.

History is replete with such developments as humanity is always pushing the frontiers of knowledge and putting technology to test in the most esoteric way. There is always a harvest of glory and then wealth.

Look at this. The space race started in the 50s. The Soviet Union of which Russia remains the most visible surviving face, sent the Sputnik into space in October 1957. The development was too much for America to stomach as the country’s President, J.F. Kennedy challenged his nation to land a man on the moon between 1960 and 1970. By July 1969, the objective was achieved as Apollo11 docked three men on the moon who planted an American flag in that planet hitherto unreached by man.

Since then the wisdom in President Kennedy’s positon not to concede the importance of space to any other nation of the world is only too obvious. More countries of the world have joined the space race. Our dear country, Nigeria, even had to contact the Chinese to build a satellite for us to have a leg in the space business. Space technology has become a big boom for businesses. You can’t fly a plane without space technology. You can’t steer a ship without space technology. Telecommunications and broadcasting are dead without space technology. In fact, life may actually be put on hold without space technology. Call that hyperbole! It only adds colour to our exaggerated beliefs.

At the moment, fun has become an element of the game. Only recently, billionaire Jeff Bezos, flew an all female crew into space with his Blue Origin rocket. Within 11 minutes of return flight, the six women got beyond the limits of the earth into that space of weightlessness before returning in a capsule. And perhaps too tucked into her seat to enjoy an opportunity to wave to God, pop star, Katy Perry, burst into Louis Armstrong’s song, What a Wonderful World. CBS reporter, Gayle King called it the highlight of the journey for her, according to a BBC report of the event.

Another billionaire, Elon Musk, who has become more of a politician lately, with his SpaceX, has long redefined the history of space technology, going beyond tourism to even sending a crew for space rescue mission recently from the International Space Station (ISS).

British billionaire, Richard Branson, wouldn’t let the Americans have the entire space to themselves alone. Virgin Galactic planned a monthly tour to space. A ticket is said to cost a hefty $450,000 from $200,000; while in the summer of 2021, Blue Origin once auctioned a seat for $28m!

So there is so much to benefit from new technologies beyond the veneer of politics. And methinks the minister is not playing politics but genuinely concerned about Nigeria benefiting from this new genre of technology with the capacity to have a profound impact on humanity well into the foreseeable future.

At the Paris AI Summit in February 2025 where Nigeria was present fortunately, the global community came to pitch for their countries. For instance, Vice President JD Vance who represented the United States argued that of the projected $700bn investment in AI by 2028, half of the money should come to his country because of the attraction it presents.

Dr Tijani said at the time that “Artificial Intelligence is an opportunity for humanity to be better, and we cannot afford to take our eyes off it.” He is also very concerned about Nigeria leading AI discourse in the global south where needs and direction are different from what obtains in the developed north.

But more of the strategy was about the country last week. “The country’s model involves identifying and engaging with Nigerian researchers and experts in AI, both locally and internationally, to develop a comprehensive strategy that addresses the nation’s specific needs and challenges,” he said.

From the personalities present at the launch, including Prof Olayinka David-West, Dean, Lagos Business School, and Dr Olubayo Akanmbi, CEO, Data Science Nigeria, representatives of relevant industries and their positive positions expressed, this writer has little room for doubt. However, there is some fear that this launch shouldn’t be another layer upon the stack of problems waiting to gain serious attention in the tech ecosystem or in the government basket of issues waiting to be addressed.

There are quite a number of them but I will pick only two for the purpose of this writing. The mobile industry is projected to hit $11trillion in economic value and 8.4 percent of global GDP by 2030. Without doubt Nigeria is expected to benefit from this economic windfall. Unfortunately, the regulator of the telecommunications industry, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), whose duty it is to curate the process and ensure such benefits, has not been able to recover from the harassment received under the previous administration. It is therefore reasonable to observe that without being spruced up in terms of training and necessary financial provision, the organisation may find it difficult to meet expectations from critical stakeholders. It is in the interest of the government for the NCC to once again wear the ironclads of the regulator and be able to meet even the most basic aspirational expectations of these stakeholders.

The Minister may tell me that he is not in charge of the broadcast industry and its regulator, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) but the activities can hardly be separated. Look at it this way. The Digital Switchover (DSO) that should have ended in 2021 has hardly moved a needle. This writer is not aware of any timetable at the moment to bring the process to a conclusion. The attraction at the time was that a proper execution of DSO would free up some broadcast frequencies for telecom services. Apart from bringing more money to the coffers of the government, the new frequencies will help to deepen telecommunication service availability and penetration. A minister so desirous of growing the telecoms industry with the aim of introducing new bouquets of services should take more than a cursory interest in the DSO process and encourage his broadcast counterpart with shared and beneficial opportunities.

As a writer, I have long understood the emptiness of words, how cheap they can be, according to Prof Femi Osofisan, and the need for those in government to go beyond the confines of words. I encourage Dr Bosun Tijani to match his enthusiasm with action and add the agility of youthfulness to achieve the kind of results that history cannot ignore. He doesn’t need to be told that technology can be very harsh in documenting our efforts for posterity.

As the world mourns Pope Francis, the race to choose his successor begins behind closed doors.

News of the pontiff’s death has cast a shadow over Rome and plunged 1.4 billion Catholics into nine days of mourning. While masses echo across continents and preparations for his burial move forward, a more discreet drama unfolds within the Vatican’s marble halls.

In whispers and quiet meetings, cardinals from around the globe begin the delicate, often political task of selecting the next spiritual leader of the Catholic Church.

Two of the candidates are of African origin: Cardinal Fridolin Besungu of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Cardinal Peter Turkson from Ghana. Could any of these African cardinals be the anointed candidate?

The last African popes — Victor I, Miltiades, and Gelasius I — served in the early centuries of Christianity, with the most recent, Gelasius I, reigning in the late 5th century. Since then, there has not been a pope of African origin.

BESUNGU

Aged 65, Besungu is the youngest African cardinal and has served as Archbishop of Kinshasa. Besungu represents the growing church of Africa and could appeal to a cross-section of cardinals in a conclave. He is also a member of the Capuchin Franciscan religious order – an order of friars which follows the teachings of St. Francis of Assisi, the saint whom Pope Francis took a name after.

Besungu has been a strong defender of democracy and human rights. He repeatedly criticised the repeated attempts of then-Congolese President Joseph Kabila to push back elections from 2016 to 2018, and later led a mission of bishops to Lusaka, Zambia, to meet with President Edgar Lungu. He urged Lungu to advocate for peaceful elections in the DRC. Besungu has also criticised the exploitation of natural resources and believes that renewables will help alleviate the impact of climate change in the world.

Last year, Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi announced an investigation that could lead to Besungu being charged with sedition for his sharp public criticism of the failures of the state to address chronic security challenges and injustices, especially in Congo’s contested eastern region.

The Vatican has yet to react publicly to the news. Should charges against Ambongo be filed, it could dampen his chances of being the next African pope.

TURKSON

Turkson has had a decorative episcopal career. Hailing from Ghana, he is another candidate who could make history as the first African pope in modern times. The cardinal has served as chancellor of the Pontifical Academies of Sciences since 2022. He was president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, focusing on social justice, climate, and migration from 2009 to 2017, and the inaugural prefect of the Dicastery for the Promotion of Integral Human Development from 2017 to 2021.

Pope John Paul II made the former Archbishop of Cape Coast a cardinal in 2003. Since then, Turkson has been widely regarded as papabile, a candidate for election to the papacy. In 2013, he was described as “one of Africa’s most energetic church leaders” — a description that was not far-fetched given his stint as a guitarist in a funk band.

The 76-year-old studied in Ghana and Rome, earning a doctorate in sacred scripture from the Pontifical Biblical Institute. He is known for his advocacy on global poverty and environmental issues, and he played a key role in shaping Pope Francis’s encyclical Laudato si’ on the environment.

Turkson speaks English, Fante, French, Italian, German, and Hebrew, in addition to understanding Latin and Greek.

Here are the other candidates.

1. LUIS ANTONIO TAGLE (PHILIPPINES)

• Age: 67
• Background: Ordained in 1982, Tagle served as Bishop of Imus and later Archbishop of Manila. He was made cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012. He leads the Vatican’s Dicastery for Evangelisation, focusing on missionary work.
• Pedigree: Known as the “Asian Francis”, Tagle is a prominent advocate for social justice and inclusion, continuing Pope Francis’s progressive vision. He has also led Caritas Internationalis, a global Catholic charity network.
• Interesting fact: If elected, he would be the first Asian pope.

2. PIETRO PAROLIN (ITALY)

• Age: 70
• Background: A seasoned Vatican diplomat, Parolin has served as Vatican secretary of state since 2013, effectively the pope’s chief advisor and head of the Roman Curia. He has a background in diplomacy, including postings as nuncio to Venezuela and work on Vatican-China relations.
• Pedigree: Known for his moderate stance, Parolin is seen as a compromise candidate between progressives and conservatives. He is fluent in multiple languages and has extensive experience in international affairs.
• Interesting fact: He could restore an Italian papacy after 40 years, but the papal election remains unpredictable.

3. PETER ERDO (HUNGARY)

• Age: 72
• Background: Erdő is a canon law scholar and has been the Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest since 2002. He was made cardinal in 2003 and is known for his conservative theological stance.
• Pedigree: A leading conservative figure, Erdő has championed traditional Catholic teachings and ecumenical outreach to Orthodox Christians.
• Interesting fact: He was the youngest cardinal at the time of his appointment and is seen as a candidate who could steer the church back toward conservatism.

4. ANGELO SCOLA (ITALY)

• Age: 82
• Background: Scola is a long-time papal contender and former Archbishop of Milan. He has a reputation as a traditionalist with a strong theological background.
• Pedigree: He was a favourite in the 2013 conclave but lost to Francis. His age may be a limiting factor this time.
• Interesting Fact: Despite being older, Scola’s traditionalist views appeal to those favouring a more centralised church.

5. PIERBATTISTA PIZZABALLA (ITALY)

• Age: 60
• Background: Newly made cardinal in 2023, Pizzaballa is the Vatican’s leading official on Middle Eastern affairs, having spent much of his career in Jerusalem.
• Pedigree: Known for his diplomatic and pastoral experience in volatile regions, he is seen as an international figure somewhat removed from Vatican politics.
• Interesting fact: Pizzaballa could also restore the Italian papacy, but his age could be a limiting factor. Older candidates are often favoured in preference of a shorter administration.

6. MATTEO MARIA ZUPPI (ITALY)

• Age: 69
• Background: Archbishop of Bologna since 2015 and cardinal since 2019, Zuppi is associated with the Sant’Egidio community, known for humanitarian and conflict resolution work.
• Pedigree: Seen as a progressive candidate aligned with Francis’s focus on the poor and migrants.
• Interesting fact: He has openly supported pastoral outreach to LGBTQ+ individuals and was appointed as a special envoy for Ukraine.

7. GÉRALD LACROIX (CANADA)

• Age: 67
• Background: Lacroix’s focus on a missionary church is likely to be seen favourably in a papal election. Francis chose him as a member of the council of cardinals, the body that advises the pope on crucial matters.
• Pedigree: Serving as Archbishop of Quebec, Lacroix is considered an accomplished leader and pastorally sensitive, with experience guiding a local church in a country with high rates of secularisation.
• Interesting fact: Lacroix faced an allegation of sexual abuse in the 1980s by an unnamed female who was 17 at the time, but the cardinal strongly denied the claim. A retired judge, commissioned by the Vatican to investigate the allegations, later found no evidence of sexual misconduct. The allegation could damage Lacroix’s candidacy, but the judge’s finding might also be viewed as Lacroix having already been vetted.

[TheCable]