Pope Francis died of a stroke, causing a coma and “irreversible” heart failure. According to AFP, his death certificate released by the Vatican on Monday showed the cause of death. It could be recalled that the 88-year-old Catholic Pontiff died on Monday morning. The cause of Pope Francis’ death has been identified as a stroke, followed by a coma and irreversible cardiocirculatory collapse. The Director of the Directorate of Health and Hygiene of the Vatican City State, Dr. Andrea Arcangeli, issued the official certification, and the Holy See Press Office released the report on Monday evening. According to the medical report, the Pope had a prior history of acute respiratory failure caused by multimicrobial bilateral pneumonia, multiple bronchiectases, high blood pressure, and Type II diabetes. His death was confirmed through electrocardiographic thanatography. “I hereby declare,” wrote Dr. Arcangeli, “that the causes of death, to the best of my knowledge and judgment, are as stated above.”

Only one Cardinal from Nigeria, Peter Cardinal Okpaleke (62) is eligible to participate in the election of a new Pope, the Catholic Broadcast Commission of Nigeria, CBCN, confirmed on Monday. NATIONAL POST recalls that Pope Francis passed on early Monday morning at the age of 88. Other Nigerian cardinals not eligible to participate in the election of the new Pope include Francis Cardinal Arinze (92), Anthony Cardinal Okogie (88), and Cardinal John Onaiyekan (81). Age was given as reason for their ineligibility to be part of the papal conclave. This was contained in an unsigned statement posted on the CBCN Facebook page. The statement reads: "His Eminence, Peter Cardinal Okpaleke (62) is the only Nigerian Catholic cardinal out of four cardinals currently eligible to participate( vote) in a papal conclave being under 80yrs of age—both to vote for a new pope and to be voted for as Pope. Other Nigerian cardinals who cannot vote .. Francis Cardinal Arinze - 92 Anthony; Cardinal Okogie - 88 Cardinal John Onaiyekan - 81 "WHY CAN'T CARDINALS OVER THE AGE OF 80 VOTE IN CONCLAVES? "The Church excuses them from voting out of concern for the Cardinals themselves. Selecting the Supreme Pontiff can be a great burden of responsibility, and especially so when one is advanced in age. These Cardinals instead take the role of supporting the electors by helping to lead the People of God in prayer during the election. "The reason for this provision is the desire not to add to the weight of such venerable age the further burden of responsibility for choosing the one who will have to lead Christ's flock in ways adapted to the needs of the times. "This does not however mean that the Cardinals over eighty years of age cannot take part in the preparatory meetings of the Conclave, in conformity with the norms set forth below. "During the vacancy of the Apostolic See, and especially during the election of the Supreme Pontiff, they in particular should lead the People of God assembled in the Patriarchal Basilicas of Rome and in other churches in the Dioceses throughout the world, supporting the work of the electors with fervent prayers and supplications to the Holy Spirit and imploring for them the light needed to make their choice before God alone and with concern only for the "salvation of souls, which in the Church must always be the supreme law".

Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, has joined the rest of the world in mourning the Catholic Pontiff and sovereign of the Vatican City, Pope Francis. Mbah described the late Pontiff as a man full of humanity, a reformer, and humble leader. In a statement he personally signed on Monday, the governor also described the Pope's demise as a heavy loss, not only to the Catholic Church, but equally to the entire world. "His Holiness, Pope Francis, was full of humanity and lived as an epitome of meekness. A highly spiritual Pontiff, he chose a modest life over the glamour and privileges intrinsic in the papacy. “The first Jesuit Pope championed a number of liberal reforms, including the review of the Vatican constitution that accorded the lay Catholic and women a foothold on the central administration of the Mother Church “Importantly, His Holiness will be remembered for the promotion of global peace, one of his most outstanding legacies being the 'Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together,' which he co-signed with the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb, on February 4, 2019. “Therefore, I am of the strong belief that a peaceful resolution of the raging conflicts around the world will stand as the greatest monument in honour of the Holy Father. “On behalf of the Government and good people of Enugu State, l join the over 1.4 billion members of the Catholic Church across the world to mourn His Holiness and pray for the peaceful repose of his kind soul."

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate in the 2023 general election in Ebonyi State, Chief lfeanyi Chukwuma Odii has empowered Isuachara community in Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State with One Hundred and Fifty Million Naira (N150,000,000.00) to boost food production. Odii announced the empowerment in the community during a grand reception in his honour. He said he would select three beneficiaries each from five kindred that make up the community for modern agric businesses and promised to give N3 million each to 15  of them after training. He also supported the community's N300m Town Hall project with Twenty Million Naira (20,000,000), promising to give more if the money was  judiciously utilized. "Our community is known for its rich in production of rice, yam, Cassava and vegetable foods, and that made our community people agrarian and that is why I am supporting them. "The agricultural empowerment will involve three persons each from the five kindred, making 15 beneficiaries. "The beneficiaries will go into training in morden farming and after which, I will give them N3 million each to start up agricultural business," he said. Odii, who bagged a Chieftaincy title, "Omeziriobodo 1 of Isuachara alongside six other illustrious sons of the community, said the agricultural empowerment would be rotating among the people annually. Emmanuel Ogudu, National Chairman of Isuachara Development Union said the grand reception and the Chieftaincy award were for the appreciation of Odii for his meritorious service to mankind. Ogudu, who commended Odii, said the annual occasion would pave way for more unified people of Isuachara, urging Odii to keep the flag flying. Also speaking, the Chairman of the occasion, Professor Ogbonna Ogbu, who also one of the Chieftaincy awardees, expressed gratitude for the 2025 celebration of the Isuachara day.

There is panic in Zamfara State following reported imposition of N60m levy on some communities in Zamfara State. Residents fear there could be attacks if they don’t pay the levy as imposed by the bandits. They include: Koloma, Dan Hayin Zargado, Zargado, Dan Godabe, Sabuwar Tunga, Makini, Bubaka, Yelwa, Bahwada, Koda, Manya and Kabusu communities. The bandits operating in the north eastern part of the country accused the communities of aiding military raids. This was disclosed in a post on X by Bakatsine, a conflict and crisis journalist in northwest Nigeria. He wrote: "Bandits have imposed a N60m levy on 12 Zamfara communities: Koloma, Dan Hayin Zargado, Zargado, Dan Godabe, Sabuwar Tunga, Makini, Bubaka, Yelwa, Bahwada, Koda, Manya & Kabusu for allegedly aiding military raids. Residents fear attacks if they don’t pay." NATIONAL POST reports that Zamfara is one of the states that have faced consistent attacks by bandits for several years. Governor Dauda Lawal, who inherited the security challenge, vowed never to negotiate with the terror group.

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, (SAN), Prof Joy Ezeilo has mourned the passage of Catholic Pontiff, Pope Francis. It could be recalled that Pope Francis passed on in the early hours of Easter Monday.e Ezeilo, Executive Director of Women Aid Collective, (WACOL), in a message posted on her social media pages, said Pope Francis was a defender of the voiceless. She wrote, "Fare thee well, our Holy Father Pope Francis! A beacon of divine grace, a tireless advocate for the voiceless, vulnerable, victimized, and impoverished. "His life's work, a testament to unwavering faith and devotion to God and humanity, will forever inspire Christendom and beyond. "I had the profound honour of meeting Pope Francis in 2013 at the Vatican during the Interdenominational Conference he organized on Human Trafficking. "At that time, I served as the UN Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children. One memory stands out vividly: an Argentine woman, rescued by Pope Francis himself when he was the Bishop in Argentina, shared how his intervention saved her life from the abyss of trafficking."

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo has confirmed that the Federal Government is carrying out a review process for the concessioning of Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu. There have been condemnations over reports that the airport has been concessioned for 80 years. However, the minister in a statement issued on Monday by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Tunde Moshood said whilst it was true that the federal government was considering proposals for the concession of five major airports to ensure these vital facilities can meet and maintain international standards, it was untrue that it had concluded the process. While noting that many of the country's airports were presently running at a loss, Keyamo said it was noteworthy that the initiative to concession the airports started from previous administrations. The statement reads, “Our attention has been drawn to certain online reports/stories suggesting that a certain lengthy period of concession has been agreed upon regarding the Enugu International Airport. These reports/stories are utterly baseless and untrue. “At this stage, prospective concessionaires have indeed submitted various proposals, including different durations for the concession. “It is important to emphasise that the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development has not established any fixed duration. “All submitted proposals are currently undergoing thorough evaluation that will eventually be reviewed by the ICRC before it is presented to the Minister for conveyance to FEC for approval. We can confirm that this review process has not been concluded.”

President Bola Tinubu is expected back to Nigeria today, Monday, after a trip to France, Europe. He embarked on the trip on April 2nd, attracting condemnation from major opposition leaders. Both former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the Labour Party ex-presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi criticised his absence at a time when killer herdsmen and bandits were running riot. However, presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, in a terse statement on his X account Monday, wrote: "President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will return home today.” The presidency had earlier said Tinubu can run the country from any part of the world.

The process will soon commence for the replacement of the deceased Catholic Pontiff, Pope Francis. NATIONAL POST reported that Pope Francis died Monday morning, aged 88. Eight cardinals are among those in line to succeed him. They include: Peter Turkson, 76 The former Bishop of the Cape Coast, would be the first black Pope and would have the appeal of reaching out to Africa. Born in Ghana, he was sent by Pope Francis as a peace envoy to South Sudan. Luis Antonio Tagle, 67 Tagle is a frontrunner this time round and is considered one of the more liberal candidates Pietro Parolin, 70 Parolin has worked closely with Pope Francis but has upset some with his views on China. He is seen as a moderate, though not as close to the liberal wing as Francis has sometimes appeared to be. Peter Erdo, 72 From the Eastern bloc, Erdo is a deep conservative and has spoken against divorced or remarried Catholics receiving holy communion. Jose Tolentino, 59 As the relative youth candidate, he has advocated that biblical scholars engage with the modern world by watching films and listening to music. Matteo Zuppi, 69 Zuppi has been Archbishop of Bologna since 2015 and was appointed a cardinal by Pope Francis in 2019. Two years ago, the Pope made him the Vatican peace envoy for Ukraine. Mario Grech, 68 Cardinal Grech has played a key role in advancing Pope Francis’s vision for a more inclusive and participatory Church. He served as the Bishop of Gozo and is now the Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops. Robert Sarah, 79 Born in French Guinea, Sarah is another possibility as the first black pope. A conservative, he has denounced gender ideology as a threat to society. He has also spoken out against Islamic fundamentalism.

Roman Catholic Pontiff, Pope Francis is dead. News of his demise filtered in on Monday. Francis died at the age of 88, the Vatican announced. In a post on the social media platform X, the Vatican said that the pontiff died in his residence. Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, disclosed that Pope Francis died at 7:35 am on Easter Monday. Speaking at the Casa Santa Marta, Farrell said: "Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. "At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of His Church. "He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favor of the poorest and most marginalized. "With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God." Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Francis was elected pope on March 13, 2013, becoming the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church.

Super Falcons player, Peace Ogebe is in a lamenting mood over the widespread killings in Benue State. The midfielder, in a post shared via her social media handle, lamented the ceaseless bloodshed ravaging her home state, stating that she’s been unable to sleep in recent days due to the disturbing news filtering in from the region. According to her, "I am just having sleepless nights these days because of what is happening in Benue State. “Like seriously, I can't just sleep. Why all the killing? What is their aim? I keep asking myself this question yet there’s no answer.” While accusing the authorities of not doing enough, she added: "Why is the government quiet over these killings? “Is it that they don't know what to do, or they just intentionally want to be mute.” Benue has remained under severe attacks by herdsmen, with tens of people already killed, many displaced and properties burnt.