Nsukka—The Catholic Pontiff, Pope Francis, has poured encomiums on the Catholic Bishop Emeritus of Nsukka Diocese, Most Rev. Francis Emmanuel Okobo, for dedication and humility to his religious call in his 50 years as a priest, out of which 25 were spent as a bishop. This was contained in his goodwill message to the diocese during the week-long celebrations to mark the triple jubilee: Episcopal Silver Jubilee of Bishop Okobo, Silver Jubilee of the Nsukka Catholic Diocese and Priestly Golden Jubilee of Bishop Francis Okobo.

TENSION gripping Akwa Ibom State was raised to fever pitch last weekend with speculations that the Supreme Court would today give judgment on the electoral dispute between the governorship candidates of All Progressives Congress APC Mr. Umana Okon Umana and Mr. Udom Emmanuel of the People’s Democratic Party.

IMMEDIATE past Delta State Commissioner in-charge of Youth Development and former President of Iwere Development Association, IDA, Mr Omolubi Newuwumi, has warned Itsekiri against flouting the order of the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Ikenwoli, regarding the 40 years age limit for any of his subjects holding youth executive position to vacate such office.

Itsekiri Leaders of Thought, ILoT, Warri, Delta State, has alleged contract fraud in Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, running into billions of naira, mainly on phantom, shoddy projects and outright embezzlement by officials of the agency in Itsekiri oil communities.

The continuation of cross examination of the widow of the late Ikemba of Nnewi, Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu, Bianca Ojukwu, in the ongoing legal battle between her and his brothers over the company’s property Ojukwu Transport Limited OTL, before an Igbosere High Court, could not go on as her lawyer asked for an adjournment to enable him file an amended writ of summons.

ABUJA—BARRING any last minute change of arrangement, former Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, Air Chief Marshall Alex Badeh (retd), will today honour the invitation extended to him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

NIGERIANS are becoming ever more creative in the way they employ social media as tools of mass communication. In terms of their engagement of everyday reality and narration of contemporary events, the virtual world is fast becoming not just a familiar but indeed comfortable terrain for many Nigerians. A lot of what goes on social media platforms should, in terms of their mobilisation of popular consciousness, truly be of concern to many of those who abuse positions of leadership in this country. Social media are becoming a veritable means of mass mobilisation and tool of political education in a way never before seen in these parts and that should necessarily get those with soiled political image to worry.

Nigeria LNG Limited, NLNG, yesterday, called on the Federal Government and relevant agencies, including the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, to partner it in the development of Bonny-Bodo, a long-standing government project which will help improve the infrastructure in the Niger Delta.

The Efficiency Unit of the Federal Ministry of Finance is to save about N12 billion from procurement discount annually, as it begins the implementation of the policy geared towards ensuring better value-for-money in running government organisations.

LAGOS— REACTIONS have trailed the Supreme Court judgement which ruled on the elections of Senators Andy Uba and Stella Oduah.

Former Chairman, Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, His Majesty Eze Robinson Robinson, has called for the necessary political will to end the challenges of cultism in Ahoada East and West Local Government Areas of the state.

THE traditional ruler of Olomoro Kingdom, Isoko South Local Government Area, Delta State, HRM Aghazi I, yesterday, narrated how four gun-toting kidnappers, who spoke Urhobo and Isoko, stormed his project site, overpowered, blindfolded and whisked him to a forest in Abraka, where they tortured and humiliated him for three days.

SENATE President, Bukola Saraki, yesterday, responded informally to former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s letter to him last week, blaming all past leaders since 1999 for the woes the country is presently facing.

ENUGU—IT seems there may be some respite for the warring Umode and Oruku communities in Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State, following Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s intervention the six years long conflagration, that had claimed lives and properties worth millions of Naira.

Petroleum industry operators have called on President Muhammdu Buhari, to urgently stimulate exploration and production activities in the country in order to place Nigeria on a competitive reserves and production status with its peers in the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC.