Rome wakes differently on days like these. The morning sun gilds the domes and spires with a reverence not born of architecture but of meaning. In St. Peter’s Square, pilgrims and princes, peasants and presidents gather in one breathless communion,not merely to witness, but to belong. Today is not an ordinary day. Today, the Church crowns a new shepherd. At the heart of the Vatican, beneath Michelangelo’s eternal ceiling and Bernini’s encircling arms, unfolds a liturgy as old as memory itself,the inauguration of the Petrine ministry of Pope Leo XIV. And like all such moments in Catholic tradition, it is…
Author: Shaakaa Stephanie Sewuese
Over the past few weeks, we’ve seen some of Nigeria’s most visible digital creatives post their Meta earnings and if we’re being honest, it’s crumbs compared to the content they dish out daily. Take, for instance, someone like Tunde Ednut or Aproko Doctor, churning out dozens of posts a day, commanding the attention of millions. You’d expect Meta to be raining Millions of Naira but many of these creators are not smiling to the bank. Not the Nigerian bank, anyway. A content creator like Tunde posts anywhere from 20 to 30 times daily. That’s roughly 900 posts a month, each…
This year, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) released results that sent shockwaves through Nigeria: 76% of candidates scored below 200 out of 400. Chinonso is 20. She scored 265 in the last JAMB. It wasn’t her first time, this was her third try. Her older brother calls her “Professor” at home, but every morning, she folds her bedsheet like a boarder and washes her uniform of disappointment. Her dreams of studying Medicine at UNN are real, but in Nigeria, dreams don’t always respond to effort. They respond to systems. And JAMB is one. In Nigeria’s higher education landscape,…
Today marks another Mother’s Day on the U.S. calendar, and predictably, the age-old groan resurfaces.Another one? How many do moms get?’ But behind this cheeky complaint lies a richer, messier truth about gender roles, emotional labor, and why the calendar might not be the real issue at all. Another Mother’s Day? What is this, the Oscars for moms? The frequency of Mother’s Day celebrations isn’t the problem,it’s the discomfort with honoring caregiving, emotion, and women’s unpaid labor. What are men really saying when they make this remark? Humor meets introspection. Despite the praise, most mothers still lack institutional support. Every…
For over two thousand years, the papacy has been shaped by the bloodlines of Europe, an uninterrupted stream of spiritual authority flowing from Rome, passing through German, Polish, and Argentine hands. But today, the tide of history has turned. For the first time ever, the Roman Catholic Church has elected an American pope. Never in the two-thousand-year history of the Roman Catholic Church has an American ascended the throne of Saint Peter, until now. In an event that stunned Vatican watchers and electrified faithful across the globe, Cardinal Robert Prevost, a quiet reformer with roots in Chicago and spiritual fingerprints…
It begins not with a fanfare, but with a vow. A heavy silence hangs in the air, not born of absence but of sacred intent. Officials,men and women, clergy and lay, from florists to doctors, from elevator operators to Swiss Guards stand shoulder to shoulder, not in hierarchy, but in reverence. They take the oath. One by one, they swear it. A solemn promise of absolute secrecy. Perpetual silence. A duty that may well outlive their time on this earth. Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, administers the oath not just as a formality, but as…
There was a time Nigeria had leaders, men and women who stood tall, shoulders squared, ready to face the truth, even when it bruised. Today, we have men in agbada who run from panels like common criminals dodging subpoenas. They want respect, but they fear scrutiny. They want praise, but they panic at questions. On Friday, May 3rd, during an interview with Seun Okinbaloye on Channels TV, something rare happened in Nigeria clarity. The kind that slices through noise and stares power straight in the face. Seun asked a simple, devastating question. “There was a presidential panel set up to…
They couldn’t silence her in the Senate, so they came for her voice. Now they want us to believe the echo they created is real. A nation still wrestling with patriarchy cloaked in prestige and power, one would think that when a woman dares to speak truth to power, especially from within the hallowed chambers of the Senate, her voice would be heard with dignity, not digitally manipulated and dragged through the gutters of Facebook live shows. On May 1st, 2025, a Facebook livestream aired from an unlikely court of judgment a living room broadcast turned battleground, hosted by Sandra…
They say every story has two sides. But in many homes, especially African homes, perhaps even globally, only one is ever truly heard. The nurturing, sacrificial, ever-loving mother becomes the bedrock of childhood nostalgia. She is immortalized in memory, sanctified in speech. Songs are sung in her honor. Tears fall at the mere mention of her name. She is the heartbeat of the home, the soul of the story. We find comfort in that narrative, and so we cling to it. We canonize mothers, casting them as selfless saints, keepers of warmth, endurance, and grace. We remember the bedtime stories,…
May Day, also known as International Workers’ Day, was born of struggle. In 1886, American workers in Chicago took to the streets, demanding fair hours, dignity, and safety. Their defiance lit a flame that spread across continents, igniting the labour rights movement. Today, nations commemorate their courage not just with parades, but with policies that protect the worker. But in Nigeria, what should be a celebration has become a cruel memorial not of what workers gained, but of all they have lost. Our May Day is no longer a tribute to progress. It is a requiem. Here, the worker is…
The world is largely influenced by four disciplines: • Politics • Sports • Religion • Humanitarian efforts And the individuals leading these pillars, the POTUS, the OIC Chair, the Pope, and the UN Secretary General , are among the most powerful figures on the planet. Last week, one of them passed away: The head of the Catholic Church, an institution with 1.4 billion followers and the single most influential Christian denomination in the world. Catholicism’s history spans over 2,000 years. Its origins are often traced back to the apostle Peter, when Jesus said: “You are Peter, and upon this rock,…
In a chamber where loyalty is weighed by submission, daring to think independently is the ultimate offense. There comes a time in every nation’s life when the masks fall off, and the people must decide whether to keep clapping for a bad play or walk out of the theater altogether. Nigeria, it seems, has reached that moment. The satirical “apology” from Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan pulled back the velvet curtain, exposing a stage many hoped to ignore This drama involving Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan and the Senate leadership is not just a clash of personalities. It is a mirror, tilted…
In the ancient silence of the Sistine Chapel, beneath Michelangelo’s immortal ceiling, a decision of staggering consequence is about to unfold one that may echo far beyond the walls of the Vatican. The world waits, not only for a new Pope, but for a new voice of spiritual and moral clarity in a century crying out for it. The men most likely to wear the white cassock this time are from regions once seen as the Church’s periphery Africa, Asia, and Latin America. This, in itself, is a statement as loud as a papal bull. In the photo making rounds…
There’s something profoundly humbling about the Senate President of Nigeria standing in the Vatican. A man whose name is now whispered not in reverence, but in accusation. In Nigeria, he walks with power and pageantry. But in Rome, he’s just another man in a sea of history, surrounded by sacred walls that have seen emperors fall and popes pray. No convoy. No red carpet. No special seat. Only silence. And perhaps, a moment to reflect. Sexual harassment, Abuse of office etc. These are not small allegations. They hang over him like smoke, following him across continents. And yet, there he…
They say rats flee a sinking ship. In Nigeria, politicians flee parties not because the ship is sinking, but because another vessel promises a fancier cabin. One election cycle after another, Nigerians watch with a mix of disbelief and exhaustion as familiar faces trade party flags like football jerseys often without offering a credible reason. The question that echoes with each political season is both simple and unnerving: why do Nigerian politicians keep jumping ship? Is it about ideology, relevance, survival, or just plain greed? Let’s be honest Nigeria’s political parties are not exactly built on ideas. They don’t even…
In a nation where politics is fast becoming a theatre of absurdities, the defection of Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, once the proud running mate to Atiku Abubakar under the PDP ticket, to the APC, alongside Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State, is not just another political switch. It is a betrayal. A betrayal not just of a party, but of ideals, mandates, and the millions who believed in a promise now trampled by ambition. In Nigeria, loyalty is as fleeting as a campaign promise; the defection from the PDP to the APC is not just another political move. It is a…
In the quiet stillness of the Vatican, when a pope draws his final breath, time seems to pause. The man who once bore the weight of a billion souls is now in the hands of the One he served. It begins not with grand proclamations, but with ritual. The Camerlengo, chamberlain of the Holy Roman Church, enters the papal apartment. He calls the pope by his baptismal name three times. No response. He touches the forehead with a small silver hammer, once a more literal tap, now a ceremonial gesture, and declares the pontiff dead. The Ring of the Fisherman…
From the narrow streets of Buenos Aires to the grand halls of the Vatican, Jorge Mario Bergoglio’s journey was one of destiny, sacrifice and an unrelenting pursuit of justice. A man who never sought power but wielded it with humility, his rise from a Jesuit priest to the supreme pontiff of the Catholic Church was nothing short of extraordinary. His calling was not marked by grandeur but by an intimate spiritual awakening in the quiet of a confessional on the feast of Saint Matthew. That moment set him on a path that would shake the foundations of the Church and…
At 7:35 on Easter Monday, as the bells of St. Peter’s Basilica hung in stunned silence and the air still carried the fragrance of resurrection lilies, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, went home. Not to the Domus Sanctae Marthae where he had humbly lived, but to the Father’s house, whose poor and wounded he had spent his life defending. He died the way he lived, on a day of ultimate hope, after a lifetime of radical grace. This was no ordinary death. This was divine timing. Francis, the 266th pope, didn’t just lead the Catholic Church. He disrupted it. He…
Benue is bleeding. And those we elected to protect us are either asleep, too afraid, or worse complicit. In the last year alone, over 2,600 people have been killed in Benue State. Not by disease or famine, but by well-armed, well-coordinated killers who move with impunity. Eighteen of our twenty-three local governments have been devastated. Entire communities have vanished. Farms lie fallow. Schools stand empty. Churches are silenced. Homes have become tombs. Not long ago, we watched in disbelief as the governor of Benue whose state is reeling from daily attacks decided his time was better spent visiting another governor,…
In the heart of Nigeria’s Middle Belt, a region known for its fertility and calm, the people of Benue State should be harvesting hope. But this April, all they are harvesting is grief. Friday, April 18, 2025, will never be forgotten. It was supposed to be just another day in the quiet communities of Mchia and Mou in Logo Local Government Area. Instead, it became a day soaked in blood, loss, and despair. In the late afternoon, residents of Mchia were going about their routines. Some were preparing evening meals, others were returning from the fields, and children were playing…
Mr. President, this is not just a letter. It’s a cry of the people. A nation on the brink needs leadership, not silence. Is Nigeria still worth fighting for?” Sir, this isn’t from your opposition. It’s not from a political enemy. It’s from a citizen, tired, exhausted, but still hopeful. Still daring to believe that Nigeria can breathe again. Mr. President, this is not war. We are not your enemies. We are your responsibility. And right now, this nation is gasping for air under the weight of your policies. Mr. President, We are not writing this to disrespect you. We…
In Nigeria, even compassion needs clearance. It is no longer enough to have good intentions. You must have the right godfather, the right logo, the right slogan, and, worst of all ,the right timing approved by invisible political gatekeepers. Otherwise, even a visit to comfort displaced citizens becomes a threat. That is the tragedy behind what happened when Peter Obi attempted to visit Benue State. Obi, former governor and presidential candidate, has long made it his practice to visit Nigerians in need, quietly, respectfully, and often with personal resources. This time, his mission was clear. Visit victims at an IDP…
Suswam learned. Ortom learned. Alia will learn. But why must Benue bleed before her leaders act? This isn’t politics. This is blood. This is Benue. And the world needs to know. Appeasement has failed. Dialogue has failed. Yet the killings continue. When will Benue matter enough? There’s something painfully predictable about the Fulani herdsmen’s attacks in Benue State. It’s the same story on repeat, just with different governors, different excuses, and unfortunately, fresh graves. It all started, at least in this brutal form, in February 2011. Gabriel Torwua Suswam was Governor then. When the first attacks happened, he looked away.…
Let’s not sugarcoat it. Jungle justice is wickedness, plain and simple. It is the murder of a fellow human being by people who have decided that a crowd’s rage is better than a court of law. And somehow, we’ve normalized it. You steal a phone, a bike, maybe even food to survive,and boom, you’re dead. The crowd doesn’t ask questions. No one verifies the story. People just swing into action, like it’s some kind of performance. Kick him. Strip him. Hang a tire. Pour petrol. Light the match. Applaud. That’s what we’ve become. A nation where a hungry man can…
The day before yesterday, social media in Nigeria was set ablaze by the viral video of a Nigerian woman living abroad, whose world unraveled when she discovered that her husband’s supposed niece, a child he had brought into their home, was in fact his biological daughter. A daughter he lied about. A daughter who, perhaps coached or simply complicit, maintained the lie. And instead of turning the full force of public outrage toward the root of the deception her husband’s betrayal many Nigerians took to moral gymnastics, analyzing the woman’s reaction more than they did the offense itself. Let’s be…
There was a time just a few years ago when walking into a courtroom felt like stepping into something sacred. The law was blind, incorruptible, and a shield for the vulnerable. That time is long gone. Today, Nigeria’s judiciary is no longer a temple of justice. It’s a marketplace, and justice is the commodity being sold to the highest bidder. What happens to a country when the institution meant to protect its people becomes an active player in their oppression? What becomes of a nation when the law is no longer an equalizer but a weapon for the rich and…
In a continent where leadership has often meant self-preservation and allegiance to foreign interests, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, the 35-year-old president of Burkina Faso, stands apart. He is not just governing he is redefining what it means to lead in Africa. With a fearless devotion to sovereignty, economic independence, and cultural dignity, Traoré is crafting a blueprint for liberation that challenges the post-colonial order still suffocating the continent. While many African leaders shield themselves with motorcades and isolation, Traoré walks among his people. Where others rely on foreign troops to defend their soil, he has sent them home, choosing to build…
Benue State, once the lush green jewel of Nigeria’s Middle Belt, is bleeding out in plain sight. And yet, somehow, so many eyes remain shut, so many ears closed. This is not the aftermath of a natural disaster. It is not a war declared by sovereign nations. It is the slow, systematic extermination of a people by silence, neglect, and cold indifference. A genocide with no hashtags. A crisis without urgency. In the last year alone, over 2,600 souls were wiped off the face of the earth in Benue. They weren’t soldiers or insurgents. They were mothers pounding yams, children…
There was a time when the media curated what we consumed. Information was filtered, structured, and purposefully delivered. Mondays were for serious discussions,business, economy, career. Tuesdays followed suit, and by Wednesday, there was a breather with family and education. Thursdays explored hospitality and real estate, while Friday ushered in entertainment. Saturdays brought deep think pieces, and Sundays offered something for everyone. A Sunday paper was a family affair, Dad immersed in Newswatch and Mom flipping through Lifestyle and Hints, kids eagerly scanning Ebony and Essence, their minds soaking in words like high fashion. Everything had its place. There was a…
