Opinion
Lessons From The Vatican, A Muslim View
Recently, Pope Leo XIV appealed against the recent senseless killings of people in Benue State, Nigeria. He said:
“On the night of 13th/14th June, in the town of Yelwata in the Guma Local Government Area, in Benue State in Nigeria, a terrible massacre occurred in which around 200 people were killed with extreme cruelty, most of whom were internally displaced persons hosted by the local Catholic mission. I pray that security, justice and peace will prevail in Nigeria, a beloved country so affected by various forms of violence. And I pray in a special way for the rural Christian communities in Benue State, who have been unceasingly the victims of violence.”
It is good that the Pope spoke against the senseless killings of Christians in Nigeria. He is a Catholic leader but to the credit of the Vatican, it has been speaking for world peace. The Christians value their lives, if other Nigerians don’t.
In fact, the Vatican has consistently identified with the problems of the Palestinians, although about 90 per cent of them are muslims. The Catholic Church has its challenges and problems but there are some lessons the world can learn from it. After all, the prophet of Islam said that knowledge and wisdom are the property of the believer. Therefore, he should seek and take them, even if it requires going to China, a country that had nothing to do with Islam at that time. Perhaps, to date.
This piece is about papacy, an office and institution. And I’m fairly conversant with the papacy as an institution because I offered European History in the university, where we examined the origin and development of Christianity, including the rebellion of Martin Luther and his 95 allegations called Theses, against the Catholic Church in 1517, based on which he was excommunicated (disowned) in June 1520 by Pope Leo X.
I have also read a number of books on contemporary issues in the Vatican and papacy. The one I found most engaging and intriguing is titled, “In God’s Name – An investigation Into the Murder of Pope John Paul I” by David Yallop. Over six million copies were sold, and The Economist (London) described it as, “Excellently done… an engrossing and disturbing book”. Indeed, like all other religious groups, the Catholic Church has its share of challenges. But this is not our focus.
For clarity, the pope refers to “the individual leader of the Catholic Church, the Bishop of Rome, who serves as the spiritual leader and Head of State of Vatican” while the papacy refers to “the office, dignity, and jurisdiction of the pope, encompassing the institution, authority, and tradition of the papal office”.
Now, the lessons. First, let me start with power. If there is to be president of the world, based on global acceptance of his followers, the pope is eminently qualified, as a spiritual leader and head of government (Vatican) whose about 1.4 billion followers cut across all countries, races and continents.
Interestingly, it is an enormous power which the Pope doesn’t use to massage his (not her) ego or acquire material wealth. I put “her” in bracket because there has never been a female Pope, and the struggle now is for an African, not female Pope.
With a population of 882 people, and as an enclave in Italy, the Vatican is the smallest country in the world but with sovereignty, independence and self-government. Thus, the pope is a strong leader, as head of government and at the same time spiritual leader in the world. But I cannot recall reading about an instance where the pope used this ENORMOUS POWER against humanity.
Secondly, all the four occupiers of the office of the pope in my life, were paragons of humility, the climax of which was the kissing of the feet of warring faction leaders of Southern Sudan. You may recall that John Garang took up arms for the freedom of Southern Sudan from the Arabs of Sudan who they accused of racism. However, Pope Francis knelt down and kissed the feet of their leaders. This may not mean anything in some cultures but the pope succeeded in sending a powerful message to them pleading for peace.
The president of Southern Sudan, Salva Kirr, stated in his tribute to Pope Francis that:
“His act of kindness and humility demonstrated during our visit to Rome in 2019, when he knelt down to kiss our feet was a turning point for us, the peace partners. I was almost trembling” (Agnes Aineah, ACI Africa, Juba, April 23, 2025)
Thirdly, all the popes preached peace and love for humanity regardless of religion, gender or race. And they matched their words with action. For example, they never abandoned the Palestinians who are predominantly Muslims and Arabs. Imagine the set back the Palestinians may have experienced if any of the Popes had called on Catholics in the world to support Israel.
Of course, only God knows the pressure put on them to do so. But Pope Francis died calling for ceasefire and humanitarian intervention for Palestinians in Gaza. To the dismay of war mongers, I believe.
The Catholic Church is known for effective organisation and management based on which it successfully runs thousands of dioceses and parishes all over the world. It does this by engaging in productive businesses to generate wealth to cater for its officials and followers. This commitment to social services like education, health etc earned it the respect of its followers which makes management and discipline easier.
Also, their officials are constantly trained and retrained to discharge their duties effectively. For example, see the address of Pope John Paul II to the plenary session of the congregation for the clergy entitled, “The Priest, Pastor, and Leadership of the Parish Community”, delivered on Friday November 23, 2001.
He specifically stated that, “in fulfilling his duty as guide, which is his personal responsibility, the pastor will surely obtain help from the consultative bodies foreseen by canon law”.
In the same vein, the Vatican has been teaching the world how to conduct free and fair elections. No petition. No tribunal. No court case.
For us in Nigeria, the lessons are important, because there will always be Muslims and Christians in the country. Therefore, they must learn to live in peace on the basis of justice and fairness. We must also continue to pray for peace in the country. Even if Nigeria is to break, let the new countries have something to show for wasting their time in Nigeria.
Be that as it may, it would be interesting, for example, just as the Muslims were persecuted in Mecca and the prophet of Islam sent them to present day Ethiopia where there was a just Christian king called Najashi of Aksum empire, if some Muslims are to be persecuted in Nigeria today, they will find peace in the Vatican. And the Sultan of Sokoto should be comfortable enough to send them there.
Finally, it will be good if the Vatican examines the possibility of changing the colours of the smoke they use as symbols of election of a new pope; with black indicating mourning, and white victory for the election of a new pope. All colours are innocent but people will continue to attach meanings to them.
There appears to be light at the end of the tunnel in Benue. For example, President Muhammadu Buhari expressed frustration that he directed the Inspector General of Police to relocate to Benue during a similar attack but he refused. Today, the Inspector General of Police and Chief of Defence Staff are there already before President Bola Tinubu directed them to go.
Should we all say, Shalom!
Dailytrust.com
The war in Sudan is no longer a Sudanese war. What began on April 15, 2023 as a power struggle between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) under General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, has mutated into one of the world’s worst humanitarian catastrophes and a full-blown proxy conflict.
The numbers are staggering.
According to UN estimates, nearly 200,000 people have been killed. More than 12 million have been displaced internally and across borders. Famine is no longer a risk — it is a reality in Darfur and parts of Khartoum. UN agencies have warned repeatedly that conditions will worsen as the fighting escalates and humanitarian access shrinks.
And yet, no regional initiative from IGAD, no African Union roadmap, no UN Security Council resolution has managed to halt the violence. Control of the war has slipped beyond the two belligerents. Weapons, money, drones and mercenaries flow in from outside, ensuring that the battlefield evolves faster than diplomacy.
This week, Massad Boulos, the US President’s Senior Adviser for Arab and African Affairs, made a fresh appeal on X: “The warring parties in Sudan must accept a humanitarian truce as the first step toward lasting peace,” he wrote, adding that Sudanese people deserve “an opportunity to engage in a political process leading to peace in a united Sudan.” It was a familiar call. What is unfamiliar is what Washington is now alleging happened on the battlefield.
America’s Position: No Legitimate Government In Khartoum
According to PMnewsnigeria.com,
Washington’s assessment of Sudan’s political legitimacy is brutally frank. The US State Department has stated that neither the SAF nor the RSF, nor their leaders, constitute a legitimate and constitutional government. Both rule solely by force of arms, and therefore both are unqualified to govern the country.
In practice, however, the international system still treats the army as Sudan’s de facto official authority. Burhan’s administration in Port Sudan issues passports, sits in international meetings, and addresses the UN. This is despite the fact that he came to power through a military coup in 2021, derailing a civilian transition, and despite grave allegations of abuses including indiscriminate airstrikes, killings of civilians, and obstruction of humanitarian aid.
The State Department says it has repeatedly demanded an unconditional humanitarian truce and a commitment to an inclusive political dialogue that leads to civilian rule. Those demands have been ignored.
The diplomatic rupture deepened this week. Reuters reported that the United States refused to grant a visa to General Burhan ahead of his scheduled address to the 81st UN General Assembly on Thursday.
Sudanese sources said the move was linked to a US-backed ceasefire proposal that Port Sudan opposes. The decision, if confirmed, would mark the lowest point in US-Sudanese relations since the war began. A Sudanese source told Reuters that Foreign Minister Mohieddin Salem would deliver the speech instead.
PMnewsnigeria.com notes it is not an isolated sanction. In January 2025, the United States imposed sanctions on Burhan personally, accusing the SAF under his leadership of violating international humanitarian law, targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure, carrying out extrajudicial killings, and obstructing aid delivery. Yet Burhan remained a central interlocutor for international diplomats.
Dragging Sudan Into The Prohibited
It is against this background that the chemical weapons allegation has emerged — potentially the most serious escalation in the war’s legal and moral dimension.
Sudan has been a State Party to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) since 1999.
The Convention bans the development, production, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons. Membership was supposed to close that chapter forever.
In May 2025, the US State Department declared that it had determined that the Sudanese Armed Forces had used chemical weapons against the RSF. Washington imposed sanctions on Sudan as a consequence. It did not stop there.
It brought the case to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in The Hague, calling on Sudan to comply fully with its obligations and to allow independent verification.
Khartoum responded with a national investigation that concluded no evidence of chemical weapons use had been found.
Washington rejected the national mechanism outright, stating that a self-investigation cannot substitute for independent international verification.
For months, the issue simmered. Then in September 2026, two major American newspapers — The Washington Post and The New York Times — published investigative reports citing classified documents and intelligence. Both alleged that the Sudanese army had established a stockpile of chemical weapons, including munitions and bombs containing chlorine gas, and had used them against RSF positions during the ongoing war.
The army categorically denies the allegations.
The OPCW is the only specialized international body technically capable of confirming such use through sample collection, chain-of-custody procedures and laboratory analysis. But its ability to operate inside an active war zone like Sudan is severely limited. So far, the independent international investigation has been minimal compared to the seriousness of the allegation.
The Justice Gap The World Cannot Ignore
This creates what analysts call a normalization of alleged war crimes. The RSF is rightly pursued for documented atrocities, including ethnically motivated killings in Darfur and widespread sexual violence. But the SAF, despite allegations of chemical weapons use, indiscriminate bombing, and the suspension of Burhan’s visa, continues to be presented as the legitimate voice of Sudan at the UN.
According to PMnewsnigeria.com, the United Nations International Independent Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan has tried to correct that imbalance. Its report states that both sides have committed serious violations of international law and that some drone operations could amount to war crimes. It also notes that recruitment of foreign fighters and external support networks are fueling the war, strengthening the military capabilities of both parties and enabling increasingly sophisticated operations with devastating civilian consequences.
The Mission reminds states linked to these supply chains that they have strict obligations under international law to exercise due diligence, investigate and halt illicit mercenary and supply networks operating from or through their territories, prevent violations, and enforce the UN arms embargo.
The central question for the international community is no longer whether Sudan’s war is dangerous — it is how dangerous it has become. If chemical weapons have indeed been used, Sudan has crossed a red line that implicates not just Burhan, but the global non-proliferation regime itself.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested Olori Halima Tejuoso in connection with an alleged N600 million fraud involving Mrs Mary Oluwaseye Sholoye and Mallam Ibrahim Gidado.
Tejuoso was arrested on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, after allegedly failing to honour an invitation by the Commission following her release on administrative bail.
Confirming the development, EFCC spokesman, Dele Oyewale, said Tejuoso was arrested after she allegedly jumped the administrative bail earlier granted to her by the Commission.
According to Oyewale, Gidado, who is also linked to the investigation, had been arrested earlier and arraigned before a court.
Tejuoso was reportedly accused of obtaining about N600 million from Sholoye by false pretence in connection with Gidado.
She had earlier appeared before the EFCC, where she reportedly told investigators that Gidado had allegedly defrauded her of the money she was accused of collecting from Sholoye.
However, following Gidado’s arrest and subsequent invitation by the Commission, Tejuoso reportedly failed to appear and could not be reached.
The EFCC subsequently declared her wanted on April 27, 2026, as part of its investigation into the alleged fraud.
Her arrest on September 15 brings to an end several months during which the Commission had been seeking her whereabouts.
The latest development is expected to allow the EFCC to proceed with further investigation into the circumstances surrounding the alleged N600 million transaction and Tejuoso’s relationship with the other parties involved.
The Commission’s position indicates that the matter involving Gidado has already progressed to court, while further legal steps concerning Tejuoso are expected to follow the completion of the ongoing investigation and necessary legal processes.
However, the allegations against Tejuoso remain unproven until determined by a court of competent jurisdiction.
All parties involved are presumed innocent unless and until found guilty by a court of law.
-Source: Daily Times Nigeria
Arise Television co-host Rufai Oseni has faced backlash online after sharing the outcome of an online civic opinion poll that showed Peter Obi leading a hypothetical 2027 presidential field by a wide margin.
On Tuesday, September 15, 2026, Oseni posted a screenshot from the Nigeria Elections Intelligence System (NEIS) platform with a single-word caption: “Polling.”
The image showed Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) commanding 87.4 per cent of counted responses.
Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) followed with 5.1 per cent, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at 4.6 per cent, and Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) at 1.9 per cent.
The figures were drawn from more than 2,500 counted responses. NEIS describes itself as an independent, non-partisan election intelligence platform that conducts pre-election civic opinion polls and maps polling units across Nigeria. The results Rufai Oseni shared were from one such online exercise and carry no official electoral weight.
The post sparked immediate pushback. Several social media users argued that Rufai Oseni’s own follower base tilts heavily towards Peter Obi supporters, known as Obidients, making the poll’s findings a reflection of his audience rather than the broader Nigerian electorate.
Others pointed out that real elections are decided by voters at polling units, not by online participants, and that the results had no bearing on what a 2027 contest would actually look like. The debate unfolds as preparations for the 2027 general elections gain momentum.
Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has already published a final list of presidential candidates, which includes Tinubu, Obi, Atiku and Makinde running on their respective platforms.
Check out Rufai Oseni’s X post about the results of the online 2027 presidential poll below: 
@gsbabatunde wrote: “Rufai will remain immature. You packed Obidense as followers and you are conducting Polls among them knowing fully well that the actual election involves real Voters and not Bots. What sort of ‘Childish Journalist’ are You???”
@Dailymercytye said: “They’ve start their online election gaslighting again. When they lose the real election, it’ll suddenly become a ‘rigged election’ to them and they’ll start shouting rigging.”
@adewalenisa reacted: “Same way you misled Olumide Akpata in Edo Governorship……”
@IsraelYusuf13 commented: “Twitter no be polling unit. Enough of all this online noise and let face our country”
@Commyhot1 wrote: “Online President PitObi @PeterObi,
@ruffydfire the online chairman has declared you winner oooh! Congratulations online president. Una go collect woto woto come January 16”
@AdekunleAdelaj1 stated: “Some people will call for presidential debate where this type of person will be one of them and say it’s going to be a fair one. It’s only Morons that can hold such beliefs. Online president i congratulate you as your OLOFO, chairman has declared you winner.”
@tman_musa added: “Rufai when you really want to wise up and understand online polls is not real life.”
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