News

Pope Leaves Vatican, Pledges Allegiance To Successor

Published

13 years ago

March 1, 2013

Pope Benedict XVI pledged his allegiance to his future successor and appealed for unity within the Catholic Church, during a historic farewell with cardinals yesterday, hours before resigning from the papacy.

Benedict officially steps down at 8 p.m. end of his papacy will be marked by the closure of the gates of the palace of Castel Gandolfo, the papal residence on the outskirts of Rome where he is to relocate over the coming weeks.

He told cardinals that he would pray for the Holy Spirit to assist them in the choice of a new pope, to whom “I promise my unconditional reverence and obedience.’’

Elected on April 19, 2005, Benedict is the first pontiff to resign in almost 600 years. His decision had raised questions about how the Catholic Church will deal with the unprecedented situation of having a former pope alive alongside his successor.

Cardinals will hold preliminary meetings on Monday, with a view to set a date for the conclave, the closed-door assembly held in the Sistine Chapel tasked with electing a successor.

The aim is to have a new pope by Easter, which falls on March 31 this year.

During his papacy, Benedict had to deal with the alleged cover-up of child sex abuse by priests and the VatiLeaks affair – the publication of confidential papal papers which shed light on suspected cronyism, corruption, power struggles and scheming inside the Vatican.

He insists his decision to leave the papacy was dictated by his diminishing strength from old age and had nothing to do with Vatican scandals.

Echoing remarks made about the ups and downs of his papacy during his last public audience, Benedict told the cardinals that he had gone through “wonderful moments of shining light as well as moments in which some clouds gathered in the sky’’.

He did not refer to the alleged Vatican intrigues, but he said that for all its diversity, “the College of Cardinals should be like an orchestra following a superior and concordant harmony.’’

Benedict also struck an optimistic note about the future of the Catholic Church, describing it as “a living being animated by the Holy Spirit,’’ as he recalled the large crowds that had turned up to hear him in St Peter’s Square last Wednesday.

During yesterday’s farewell ceremony, the 85-year-old pontiff made a brief speech and then stood up for over half an hour while cardinals took turns to pay their respects.

Appearing frail but alert, he stopped the process briefly to drink a glass of water.

United States Cardinal Roger Mahony was among those who greeted the pope, in spite of an online petition that had urged him to stay away from Rome due to his past attempts to shield priests who sexually abused children. Because of this, he has already been stripped of all public duties.

“Holy Father, with deep love we always tried to accompany you along your path,’’ Cardinal Angelo Sodano, the Dean of the College of Cardinals said.

News

HoS Hails Fubara Over Provision of Accommodation for Permanent Secretaries

Published

5 days ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The Head of Service (HoS) of Rivers State, Dr. Mrs. Inyingi S. I. Brown, has commended Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, for approving befitting accommodation for Permanent Secretaries in the state.

This commendation was contained in a press release made available to newsmen in Port Harcourt.

According to the Head of Service, Governor Fubara has continued to demonstrate uncommon commitment to the welfare of civil servants in Rivers State, stressing that such gestures underscore his people-oriented leadership style. She urged civil servants across the state to remain supportive of the governor’s administration in order to sustain good governance and effective public service delivery.

Speaking on behalf of the Body of Permanent Secretaries, Dr. Brown congratulated Governor Fubara on the occasion of his 51st birthday, describing him as “a Governor who leads by serving.”

She further praised the governor’s service-driven and people-centred leadership approach, noting that it has significantly contributed to institutional stability and improved efficiency within the state’s public service. Special appreciation was expressed for the approval of a befitting accommodation complex for Permanent Secretaries, which she said reflects the governor’s commitment to staff welfare and enhanced productivity.

As part of activities to mark the governor’s birthday, the Body of Permanent Secretaries announced the sponsorship of 329 Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) forms for indigent students across the state.

A breakdown of the initiative shows that 319 forms will be distributed across the 319 political wards in Rivers State, while five forms are allocated to non-indigenes and five forms to persons living with disabilities.

Interested applicants are advised to contact the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, for further details.

The Body of Permanent Secretaries wished Governor Fubara continued good health, divine wisdom, and greater accomplishments in his service to the people of Rivers State.

By John Bibor

News

Allegation of Disrespect to President Tinubu Unfounded — Rivers Government

Published

5 days ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The attention of the Rivers State Government has been drawn to a statement credited to an acclaimed Rivers State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), purportedly authored by one Bestman Innocent Amadi, alleging that the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, removed the official portrait of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, from the Government House, Port Harcourt.

For the avoidance of doubt, the Rivers State Government wishes to categorically state that there is no policy, directive, or intention on the part of the government or the Governor that disrespects the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or undermines the authority of the Federal Government.

On the contrary, the Rivers State Government, under the leadership of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, currently enjoys a robust, cordial, and collaborative relationship with the Federal Government, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the Renewed Hope Agenda—a partnership that is already yielding positive and tangible benefits for the people of Rivers State.

Consequently, the insinuation that the Governor acted out of “ingratitude” or “disrespect” is misleading, irresponsible, inflammatory, and entirely unsupported by verifiable facts, and should therefore be disregarded by the public.

It is regrettable that a body expected to promote youth unity, peace, and responsible engagement would resort to incendiary language, personal attacks, and unsubstantiated claims capable of overheating the polity at a time when Rivers State requires calm, dialogue, and mature leadership.

The Rivers State Government therefore calls on well-meaning members of the public, particularly its esteemed and hardworking youths, to disregard and dissociate themselves from individuals or groups bent on advancing divisive rhetoric and falsehoods for political purposes.

Rivers State belongs to all of us. Political differences must never be allowed to override truth, civility, peace, and the collective pursuit of progress.

Members of the public are further urged to remain vigilant and avoid lending credence to inflammatory statements or the activities of fifth columnists pursuing dubious agendas aimed at sowing discord.

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News

Rivers Government Dismisses Allegations of Disrespect to President Tinubu

Published

5 days ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The Rivers State Government has dismissed as unfounded and misleading allegations that Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara removed the official portrait of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu from the Government House in Port Harcourt.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the state government reacted to claims credited to an acclaimed Rivers State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), describing the allegation as false, irresponsible, and unsupported by any verifiable facts.

The government clarified that it has no policy, directive, or intention that disrespects the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or undermines the authority of the Federal Government. It emphasized that Governor Fubara maintains a cordial, respectful, and collaborative relationship with President Tinubu and the Federal Government.

According to the statement, the relationship between Rivers State and the Federal Government has grown stronger under the Renewed Hope Agenda, with tangible benefits and positive impacts already being felt by residents of the state.

The Rivers State Government described insinuations that the governor acted out of “ingratitude” or “disrespect” as deliberately provocative, noting that such claims are capable of misleading the public and unnecessarily heating up the polity.

It further expressed concern that an organization expected to promote youth unity and peace would engage in what it termed incendiary language, personal attacks, and unsubstantiated accusations at a time when the state requires calm, dialogue, and responsible leadership.

The government called on well-meaning members of the public, especially the youths of Rivers State, to disregard the claims and dissociate themselves from individuals or groups spreading divisive rhetoric and falsehoods for political purposes.

Reaffirming its commitment to peace, unity, and progress, the state government stressed that political differences must never be allowed to override truth, civility, and the collective interest of the people.

Members of the public were also urged to remain vigilant and not give attention to inflammatory statements or individuals described as fifth columnists bent on causing division within the state.