Religion
Bayelsa Gov’t to Support Production of Izon Bible

FROM TAYESE Mike, Yenagoa
As part of efforts to preserve Ijaw as a mother tongue, the Bayelsa State government has declared that it would support the on-going work on the production of the full version of the Bible in Izon.
Governor Douye Diri stated this on Sunday at the St.
Stephen Anglican Church, Odi, during a thanksgiving service to mark the 50th anniversary of Government Secondary School, also in Odi in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area.The governor said a Bible in Izon will help protect the language from extinction.
According to him, his administration’s will make effort to ensure that the Izon language was preserved, adding that the State Executive Council had adopted Kolokuma as the official dialect to be taught in schools in the state.
He added that Izon teachers were being trained to take up the responsibility of teaching the language, stressing that the number one identity of a people is their language.
He urged people of the state to support the government’s policy on the language.
The governor, however, expressed concern about the low turn-out of the alumni members at the thanksgiving, saying without appreciation to God man can celebrate nothing.
The state’s helmsman also encouraged the younger generation to take their education seriously if they would achieve greatness like most of the old students from his alma mater or even surpass their achievements.
His words: “We celebrate nothing if we do not celebrate God. The day of thanksgiving is the most blessed day. The Bible said of the 10 lepers that were healed, only one came back to say thank you. Let us be like that one leper.
“I like to appreciate all that are here, particularly the Amananowei of Odi, who has been like a father to me. I like to appreciate our mothers too.
“We have every reason to be here to thank God. Whatever position we find ourselves, we must be
grateful to God for it is only by His grace we attain heights.
“In the State Exco, we have adopted Kolokuma as the dialect of communication. It means that Kolokuma has been chosen as the language that will be studied in our schools and to that extent we are training teachers to teach it.”
Delivering a sermon, Bishop Funkuro Amgbare, Bishop of Diocese of Northern Izon, stressed the need for people to be thankful to God, saying it attracts more blessings.
He appreciated chairman of the Bayelsa State Council of Traditional Rulers, King Alfred Diete-Spiff, whom he said God used when he was military governor of the old Rivers State to establish GSS at Odi and expressed delight over the number of successful people the school had produced.
The chairman of GSS, Odi Alumni Association, Prof. Ebimieowei Etebu, said the decision of the old students to give back to their school was borne out of a desire to guide the younger generation to success.
He thanked everyone that made the celebrations possible and prayed God to continue to bless and enable them to do more for posterity.
NEWS
Methodist Archbishop, Igwe Condemns Spate of Insecurity, Killings in Nigeria

By, Godwin Okeh Abakaliki
The Archdiocesan Bishop of Methodist Church, Archdiocese of Ebonyi, His Grace Most Rev. Chikwendu Ogan Igwe has condemned in totality the spate of insecurity and killings of innocent citizens, especially in Plateau, Benue and some part of Ebonyi State.
Igwe, however, called on governments at all levels and wealthy personalities in Nigeria to rise and use their privileged positions to impact on the poor and less privileged in the society.
The Archdiocesan Bishop, Igwe made this known in a communiqué signed by him and the Archdiocesan Lay President, Onwe Sunday Onwe and issued to newsmen in Abakaliki, shortly after the end of the 31st annual synod of the diocese of Abakaliki, held at the cathedral of the holy Trinity, Ebonyi State.
The synod, however commended the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu for citing the coastal Roads that passed through Ebonyi State, adding that the roads will encourage economic development and ease of transport and communication in the area.
He equally applauded the governor of Ebonyi State, Francis Nwifuru for his intervention in communal clashes in some areas of the state, especially in Effium/Ezza Effium, Amasiri/Edda, Amangwu/Isinkwo and encouraged him not to relent in restoration of total peace in the entire State.
The eleven points communique reads in part: “The Synod encouraged the governor, Francis Nwifuru not to relent in the restoration of total peace in the entire State and also praise his administration for human capital development he exhibits through the people charter of needs which Methodist Church has also benefited from, before and especially during the inauguration of the Archdiocese of Ebonyi.
“The Synod affirmed that Methodist Church Nigeria has risen to their responsibilities of not only praying for the state and Nigeria, the
Citizens and especially leaders at all levels but also to contribute their quota in addressing issues of concern where necessary.
“The assembly called for attitudinal change of sacrificial giving and faithful tithing, aggressive evangelism, health services, welfare of workers and other spiritual infrastructural development of the Diocese to achieve a better result.
“The synod called on the leaders to cultivate good relationships with God as in the case of Mary and Martha in order to attract God’s intervention in the present unstable economic downturn of the Nation.
“The Synod condemned the spate of insecurity pervading the entire Nation especially the recent killings in Plateau, Benue and some part of Ebonyi State and advised that leadership at all levels should arise to tackle these threats to lives and properties.
“In the face of the uncertainty in our present society, insecurity, hunger, poverty and hardships, the Synod enjoined the general public to allow the resurrection power of Christ to drive their faith to Christ’s redemptive work.
“The Synod called on the general public and youths in particular to shun all forms of social vices, such as cultism, ritual killings, drug abuse, sexual immorality and illicit masquerading especially among the Christendom” the communiqué noted.
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Foreign News
Pope Leo XIV To Be Inaugurated May 18

The Vatican on Friday announced that Pope Leo XIV’s inauguration will take place on May 18 with a mass in St. Peter’s Square, following his election to succeed Pope Francis.
The ceremony is to take place at 10a.m (0800 GMT) May 18 at the Vatican.
Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was announced as the first U.
S. pontiff on Thursday after white smoke emerged from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel following four rounds of voting in the papal conclave.The new pope is set to keep Francis’ top employees in the Vatican in place for the time being, the Holy See said.
The first of his weekly general audiences is planned for May 21. (dpa/NAN)
Metro
NCPC Congratulates Christians Worldwide on Emergence of Pope Leo XIV

Bishop Stephen Adegbite, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC), has congratulated Catholics and Christians worldwide on the election of Pope Leo XIV as the 267th Pontiff of the Catholic Church.
Adegbite said this in a statement signed by Mr Celestine Toruka, the Deputy Director and Head, Media and Public Relations of NCPC on Friday in Abuja.
Toruka quoted the NCPC boss as saying “we congratulate Pope Leo XIV on his historic election as the first American to ascend the seat of St.
Peter.“We urge His Holiness to use his new role as the leader of the Catholics globally to preach peace and promote dialogue in addressing the myriad of societal ills plaguing humanity.
”He commended the 133 cardinals for their unanimity of purpose, resilience and forthrightness in choosing the new Bishop of Rome.
He expressed appreciation to Catholics and non-Catholics alike for their fervent prayers, which he believed contributed to the smooth election of the new Pontiff.
Adegbite noted that he was particularly touched by the new pope’s inaugural speech, in which he affirmed that the Church should serve as platform for building bridges.
He added that “this is exactly what the world needs now. We wish Pope Leo XIV good health of mind and body to carry out his apostolic duties.
“We pray that the Good Lord will grant him the grace to take the Catholic Church and all Christians to a higher pedestal of spirituality.”(NAN)