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Ijaw Leaders Ask Britain To Help Facilitate Their Independence From Nigeria

Ijaw Leaders

While we reel from the agitations by the Igbos and the Yorubas to leave the Nigerian Federation, through the Indigenous People of Biafra – led by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and the Oduduwa Republic – led by Chief Sunday Adeniyi Adeyemo respectively, the Ijaws has already embarked on a mission to follow suit.

The popular saying that “when things fall apart, the center cannot hold” may come true for the Nigerian federation whose component units are beginning to canvass for self-determination and independence. However, they intend to do so without carrying arms or bloodshed of any kind.

It has been reported by The Sun that Ijaw leaders under the umbrella of the Ijaw National Congress (INC) have begun tinkering on ways to remove itself from the geographical expression called Nigeria and have met with the British government to that effect.

The report reveals that the group believes that its people – the Ijaw nation – which has continuously sustained the economy of Nigeria since oil was discovered in Oloibiri in 1956 has been neglected and relegated to the background despite the fact the oil exploration in their communities has brought untold sufferings and hardships to its people.

Since their overall objective is to carry out the divorce from Nigerian in the most legal and rancor-free avenue available to them, the Ijaw leaders have called on the British government to assist them in dissolving the marriage between the Ijaw nation and Nigeria – which was instituted by British colonial master, Fredrick Lord Lugard.

They further accused the British government of abandoning them to their plight after convincing them to join the Nigerian equation, promising that they would be taken care of if they joined Nigeria.

Read Also: Militant Group, Niger Delta Avengers Make Fresh Demands; Presidency Responds

This resolution was contained in the seven-page address given by the delegation of Ijaw leaders representing the Ijaw nation at a meeting with the representatives of the British High Commission led by Mr. John Kekeh. The meeting was held at the Ijaw House in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, and the Ijaw nation delegation was led by the President of the INC, Prof Benjamin Okaba.

The seven-page address read in part:

“Again in the light of truth, good conscience, fairness, equity, and justice would the British people and her government be perpetually silent and feign ignorance to the excruciating plight of the Ijaw people. Furthermore, perhaps the once colonial masters would with all intent and purpose act to rescue the ugly situation- may we ask if not now then when?

“We are indeed eager and anxious to know: is your intervention coming when we are completely ripped off our God-given Oil and Gas natural resources and abandoned to our fate in wallowing and the criminally degraded environment without remediation. In all honesty, would that not be a crime against humanity where the British government would be seen as accomplices.

“The visitation is about us telling them that you (British) brought us into Nigeria and they should play their role to take us out of this country. The British have the moral duty to take us out. We were deceived to join Nigeria; they abandoned us and deceived us. Let them do the needful. As Ijaw people, we are tired of this country. We have suffered in this country; we have carried the burden of this nation on our shoulders for too long.

“We have placed minimum conditions. The first condition is the restoration of true federalism. Number two, we have to be placed not as balkanized people. We cannot be scattered into different states and make us minorities and slaves. We cannot be slaves in a place where our resources are used to sustain the people. It is unacceptable.

“So Ijaw people are saying to the Federal Government that if this minimum requirement is not met, we are no longer committed to the Nigerian project. And that if we are leaving as an Ijaw republic, we shall do it peacefully and legally. This is the message we are sending to the British High Commission and to the British Government to come and undo what they did.”

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10 things To know about The New Pope Leo XIV

Following Pope Francis’s passing, United States Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost has emerged as the 267th leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics.

Senior Cardinal Dominique Mamberti announced Prevost to a cheering crowd on St Peter’s balcony on Wednesday afternoon, saying the famous Latin words “Habemus Papam,” meaning “we have a pope.”

Picking the papal name Leo XIV, the newly elected Pope becomes the first American to occupy the exalted religious position.

Speaking in Italian, the 69-year-old described his predecessor as always “courageous and blessed Rome.”

1. Prevost was born on September 14, 1555, in Chicago, Illinois, to parents Louis Marius Prevost and Mildred Martinez.

2. In 1997, he entered the novitiate of the Order of Saint Augustine (OSA) and made his solemn vows in 1981.

3. As a former prefect of the influential Dicastery for Bishops, Prevost shared similar views to his immediate predecessor and spent many years as a missionary in Peru before he was elected the head of the Augustinians for two consecutive terms.

4. The Chicago-born prelate earned his Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Villanova University in 1977, before proceeding to Catholic Theological Union in Chicago for his Master of Divinity. He subsequently bagged both a licentiate and doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical College of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome, with a doctoral thesis on “The role of the local prior in the Order of Saint Augustine.”

5. He was ordained as a priest in 1982 and joined the Augustinian mission in Peru shortly after, where he served as chancellor of the Territorial Prélature of Chulucanas from 1985 to 1986.

6. Between 1987 and 1988, he was in his home country of the US, working as pastor for vocations and director of missions for the Augustinian Province of Chicago. In 1988, he returned to Peru, where he spent the next ten years heading the Augustinian seminary in Trujillo and teaching canon law in the diocesan seminary, doubling as prefect of studies. Prevost also served in other capacities there, including as a parish pastor, diocesan official, director of formation, seminary teacher, and judicial vicar.

7. He returned to Chicago in 1999 and was elected provincial prior of the “Mother of Good Counsel” province in the archdiocese, before emerging as prior general of the Augustinian order and serving two terms until 2013.

8. The American prelate returned to Peru in 2014, following his appointment as the apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Chiclayo by Pope Francis. He was elevated to Bishop of Chiclayo in 2015, where he served as vice-president and member of the permanent council of the Peruvian Bishops’ Conference from 2018 to 2023.

9. Prevost served as apostolic administrator of Callao in Peru between 2020 and 2021.

10. In January 2023, Pope Francis appointed Prevost as prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, a powerful position responsible for selecting bishops. He held this position until his predecessor died on April 21, 2025. On September 30, 2023, Pope Francis elevated Prevost to the rank of Cardinal.

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Entertainment

Wizkid Cancels multiple North America dates on ‘Morayo’ Tour, Sparking Online Debate

Nigerian superstar Wizkid has cancelled several dates on the North American leg of his much-anticipated ‘Morayo’ world tour, sparking concern among fans and insiders alike.
The cancelled shows include major venues such as:

June 5 – State Farm Arena, Atlanta

June 7 – Madison Square Garden, New York

June 11 – Scotiabank Arena, Ontario, Canada

June 15 – CFG Bank Arena, Baltimore

While his team has yet to release an official statement explaining the latest development, fans anxiously await clarity and possible new dates.

Despite the setback, sources suggest that the European leg of the Morayo Tour will continue as planned, with no current indications of change.

However, reactions online hint at deeper personal struggles. A close associate, Godson, stirred concern on social media when he responded to a fan’s inquiry about the cancellations by asking for prayers for Wizkid.

“Add him to your prayer. I think he’s still grieving, and nobody is helping him achieve this. Sad,” Godson posted.

Fans have since flooded social media with messages of support, urging the Star Boy to take all the time he needs to heal.

News of Wizkid’s North American tour cancellations has sparked a social media frenzy, with fans and critics flooding platforms like X (formerly Twitter) with mixed reactions, ranging from deep concern to outright mockery

Some fans expressed disappointment over the show cancellations, while others pointed fingers at poor planning, low ticket sales, and questionable timing.

Here are some of the most viral reactions:

@abazwhyllzz: “So none of his fans could buy ticket despite the ticket price reduction??? Brooo, this guy is finished.”

@mafia3O: “Cancelled in the midnight thinking people would not notice.”

@bigHotbaby1: “Wizkid scheduled his tour the same day there’s a big game in New York? Who’s advising this guy?”

@Zillionhood: “WizKid should retire this year with little dignity, by 2026 he will be retiring with mucha shame on him.”

@twnty__one: “Shey dem him fans no see money buy ticket ni or why the cancellation? Lol popsy una.”

Fanbase Rivalries Heat Up
The news also reignited the age-old Stan wars between fanbases, with some accusing media platforms of showing bias in their coverage.

@sakpo0007_: “Nah you guys are unreal. No single post on your page about Davido’s ‘5ive’ Spotify streams deduction but yeah it’s Wizkid news, y’all are active now… Fvckers.”

@bisolaa_0: “You updated this faster than Davido deducted streams on Spotify. Smh.”

@1stsonofdavido: “You see Wizkid downfall? I’m always there like Toyota Hilux. If it was Davido, everywhere for don scatter. Like I said, any Wizkid slander, I’m always there.”

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Celebs

Burna Boy gears up for the release of his 8th album with ‘Sweet Love’

Burna Boy

Grammy award-winning global icon Burna Boy ushers in his highly anticipated eighth studio album ‘No Sign of Weakness’ with today’s release of the seductive new single ‘Sweet Love.’

The song is set to be followed by a music video, which will complement its breezy feel.

The song produced by Major Seven is a romantic, reggae-leaning track that showcases Burna Boy’s unmistakable vocal charisma and signature blend of global influences with melodic pop sensibility.

‘Sweet Love’ continues Burna Boy’s standout year, building on the momentum of No Sign of Weakness’s first single, ‘Update’.

Produced by P2J (Beyoncé, Tems) and built around a sample of Soul II Soul’s iconic 8 the track blends Afrobeats with anthemic, club-ready energy.

The official video, which weaves together powerful visual vignettes inspired by the album’s central themes, has already surpassed 5 million views on YouTube.

Burna Boy has previously released the bubbling ‘Bundle By Bundle,’ which has amassed over 24M Spotify streams and 8.5M video views.

Most recently, Burna Boy joined French-Haitian singer Joé Dwèt Filé for the remix of the viral hit ‘4 Kampé,’ fusing Afrobeats and Haitian Kompa into a cross-cultural anthem that continues to chart across platforms globally.

Last month, Burna Boy became the first-ever cover star of Billboard France, coinciding with his historic, sold-out show at the Stade de France, making him the first African artist to headline the iconic venue.

The multi-award-winning global star followed up on his Stade De France concert with another historic concert in Manchester, where he sold out the Co-op Arena, which is the biggest indoor Arena in England.

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